Levamisole (R 12564) in the prevention of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in children: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 33 children suffering from chronic or recurrent upper respiratory tract infections to assess the effectiveness of levamisole in reducing the number, duration, and severity of infective episodes. A weight-related dosage of levamisole was used (2.0 to 2.5 mg per kg body weight), patients taking a single dose on 1 day per week over an autumn-winter period of 4 months. The results showed that patients in the levamisole-treated group had statistically significantly fewer periods of upper respiratory tract infection and when they occurred the episodes were milder and shorter in the levamisole group and required less antibiotics. No side-effects were noted.