Azithromycin compared with clarithromycin for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in children.
The treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis with azithromycin (10 mg/kg orally once daily for 3 days) or clarithromycin (7.5 mg/kg orally twice daily for 10 days) was compared in a randomized observer-blind study carried out in 174 children with documented Streptococcus pyogenes infection. The observed cure rate 10 days after the beginning of treatment was 61/63 (96.8%) in the clarithromycin group and 71/74 (95.9%) in the azithromycin group. At days 17-20 the bacteriological eradication rate was 95.2% for clarithromycin and 94.6% for azithromycin. When children who did not complete treatment were included in the analysis the eradication rate was higher for azithromycin (93.6% compared with 82.9%; P < 0.05); the difference was due to better compliance with the azithromycin regimen.
Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Paediatrics, University of Modena, Italy.
A
A
Venuta
L
L
Laudizi
A
A
Beverelli
F
F
Bettelli
S
S
Milioli
E
E
Garetti
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin