Comparison of two dosage schedules of doxycycline in children with rickettsial spotted fever.

We carried out a randomized clinical trial with oral doxycycline in children with Israel rickettsial spotted fever. Our purpose was to investigate whether an abbreviated course of therapy with this drug (until the patient was afebrile plus one day) would be as effective as a one-week regimen of therapy. Results with 50 pediatric patients during this three-year study indicated that the abbreviated treatment regimen was as effective. This clinical trial may serve as a model for determining shorter durations of therapy for other diseases.