Failure of Children to Receive Penicillin by Mouth

A TEN-DAY blood level of penicillin is necessary to eradicate Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci from the pharynx.1 , 2 For implementation of this objective the American Heart Association recommends either a single injection of benzathine penicillin G, injections of procaine penicillin with aluminum monostearate every third day for three doses or penicillin, 200,000 to 250,000 units, given three times daily by mouth for a full ten days, even if the patient becomes afebrile and asymptomatic.3 The question always arises when medication is given by mouth whether it actually reaches the patient's stomach, particularly in the amount and for the duration prescribed. . . .