Forty-one cases of empyema thoracis admitted in hospital during April, 1985 to August, 1987 were studied. Majority were males (65.9%) and were of less than 2 years of age (70.7%). Right side (60.9%) was predominantly involved. Abdominal distension (43.9%) was very characteristic, with other usual features like fever, cough and respiratory distress. A large majority of them were victims of malnutrition (73.2%) and anaemia (53.7%) with haemoglobin level ranging from 5-9 g/dl. Mortality was high (17.1%). Therapy with parenteral cloxacillin and gentamicin and continuous intercostal tube drainage accounted for loss of 15.8 bed days (average period of hospitalisation). Staph aureus was the principal aetiopathogen (68.3%). No anaerobe could be isolated. Strains of staphylococci were mostly resistant to penicillin and ampicillin but sensitive to gentamicin, cloxacillin and erythromycin.