Compliance with penicillin prophylaxis by children with impaired splenic function.

42 children with impaired splenic function were followed-up for 8 months for compliance with penicillin prophylaxis. Parents of 24 children (group A) chose a twice daily oral while parents of 18 children (group B) chose a 3-weekly injection regimen. The penicillin intake was checked by the presence of antibacterial activity in urine obtained at clinic visits. The clinics attendance rate for both groups was 92.7% and 94.9% respectively. For group A 44% of urines tested were positive indicating poor compliance with oral medication over the previous 5 to 16 hours. The educational level of parents and age and sex of children did not influence compliance. It seems safer, therefore, to use an intramuscular regimen rather than rely on oral prophylaxis in children with impaired splenic function.