Manifestation | Regimens* | Adult dosing | Pediatric dosing (<18 years of age) | Duration | Comments |
Lymphadenitis | Preferred regimen: | Adjunctive therapies (needle aspiration, glucocorticoids) may be warranted in patients with severe or refractory disease.¶ | |||
Azithromycin |
|
| 5 days | ||
Alternative regimens:Δ | |||||
Clarithromycin |
|
| 7 to 10 days | ||
or | |||||
Rifampin◊ |
|
| 7 to 10 days | ||
or | |||||
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole§ |
|
| 7 to 10 days | ||
Hepatosplenic disease/fever of unknown origin | Preferred regimen: | Adjunctive glucocorticoids may be warranted in patients with severe or persistent disease.¶ | |||
Rifampin◊ |
|
| Give combination regimen for 10 to 14 days | ||
plus | |||||
Azithromycin |
|
| |||
Alternative regimens: | |||||
Rifampin◊ |
|
| Give combination regimen for 10 to 14 days | ||
plus | |||||
Gentamicin¥ |
|
| |||
or | |||||
Azithromycin |
|
| 5 days | ||
Neuroretinitis | Preferred regimen: | Patients with neuroretinitis should also receive adjunctive glucocorticoids. We suggest a 6-week course of prednisone: 1 mg/kg orally once daily (maximum 80 mg per dose) for the first 2 weeks, followed by a gradual taper over the following 4 weeks. | |||
Rifampin◊ |
| Children ≥8 years of age:
| Give combination regimen for 4 to 6 weeks | ||
plus | |||||
Doxycycline‡ |
| Children ≥8 years of age:
| |||
Alternative regimens: | |||||
Rifampin◊ |
| For children <8 years of age and those unable to take doxycycline:‡
| Give combination regimen for 4 to 6 weeks | ||
plus either | |||||
Azithromycin |
| For children <8 years of age and those unable to take doxycycline:‡
| |||
or | |||||
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole◊ |
| For children <8 years of age and those unable to take doxycycline:‡
| |||
Other neurologic involvement (including encephalitis) and Parinaud oculoglandular disease | Same regimens as for neuroretinitis | 10 to 14 days | Adjunctive glucocorticoids may be warranted in patients with severe or persistent disease.¶ |
IV: intravenous.
* The preferred and alternative regimens listed in this table are for nonpregnant patients.
¶ On rare occasion, adjunctive corticosteroids may be reasonable in those with severe or persistent disease other than neuroretinitis. In this setting, an initial dose of 1 mg/kg of prednisone (maximum daily dose 80 mg/day) can be administered for five to seven days, with a taper over the subsequent 10 to 14 days.
Δ Ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally twice daily for 7 to 10 days) may be considered as an alternative treatment option in immunocompetent adults who cannot receive other regimens.
◊ Patients should be carefully screened for drug-drug interactions prior to initiating rifampin.
§ Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is dosed based upon the trimethoprim component. One double-strength tablet is equivalent to 160 mg of trimethoprim.
¥ In non-obese, average-weight adult patients, the gentamicin dose is based on ideal body weight. Renal function and gentamicin serum concentrations should be monitored at least once per week. The gentamicin dosing listed is recommended for patients with normal renal function; the initial gentamicin dose should be adjusted in patients with renal impairment and as needed based on serum concentration monitoring during treatment. Refer to the UpToDate topic on dosing and administration of parenteral aminoglycosides for further guidance.
‡ In general, we avoid prolonged doxycycline in children <8 years old because of concern of dental staining. However, doxycycline can be administered for ≤21 days without regard to the child's age. In patients with sight-threatening neuroretinitis or severe neurologic disease, the risks and benefits of doxycycline should be considered and discussed. Refer to the UpToDate topic that discusses treatment of cat scratch disease for further detail.