title: Azithromycin: 3-day versus 5-day course in the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children. Croatian Azithromycin Study Group.
abstract: A total of 371 children, aged 6 months to 12 years, with acute otitis media, acute sinusitis, streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis, or pneumonia were included in an open, multicenter study. Among them, 192 children were randomized to receive azithromycin for 3 days (10 mg/kg daily), and 179 for 5 days (10 mg/kg on day 1 and 5 mg/kg on days 2-5). The overall clinical cure rate was 95.7% and 96.1%, and bacteriological eradication rate 90.1% and 94.2% in the 3-day and 5-day groups, respectively. Side effects, mostly mild gastrointestinal disturbances, were observed in 5.3% of children from the 3-day, and 6.7% from the 5-day group. Only in one child (0.3%) was therapy discontinued due to vomiting. The results of this study demonstrate that 3-day and 5-day azithromycin courses have comparable efficacy and tolerability in children with respiratory infections.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ficnar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huzjak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oreskovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matrapazovski
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klinar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin