The effect of levofloxacin for the treatment of acute tonsillitis in adults

A follow-up study using a scoring system

Abstract

We conducted a follow-up study using a scoring system consisted of tonsil findings and clinical symptoms in order to compare the clinical efficacy of levofloxacin (300mg/day divided into 3 daily doses) for 7 days with that of amoxicillin (750mg/day divided into 3 daily doses) for 7 days in 30 adults with acute tonsillitis. After 8 days, the overall clinical score and score in the tonsil findings of the levofloxacin-treated patients were significantly lower than that of the amoxicillin-tereated patients (p=0.04, p=0.04 ; Mann-Whitney U-test). These results indicate that levofloxacin is an effective treatment which results in an earlier improvement in the tonsil findings. In addition, we also analyzed the relationship between the bacteriological investigations and the clinical scores. These results suggest that the presence of beta-hemolytic streptococcus is associated with more severe symptoms and a prolongation of this disease.