The short-term therapy of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and scarlet fever with ceftriaxone (Rocephin®) is reported. Sixty children, in whom the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by rapid enzyme immunoassay and smear test, were divided into two randomized groups and treated with a single dose of 50 mg/kg ceftriaxone or 50 mg/kg ceftriaxone on 3 consecutive days. Clinical cure was obtained in 100% of the patients and pharyngeal sterilization in 95 %, with no significant differences between the two groups