title: Safety and tolerability of azithromycin in pediatric infectious diseases: 2003 update.
abstract: Oral azithromycin suspension has been prescribed to >80 million patients. Children find the color and taste of the oral suspension of azithromycin agreeable, and the drug is well-tolerated. On average 9% of patients have treatment-related adverse events, which are most frequently gastrointestinal complaints. The side effects are mild to moderate and very seldom necessitate withdrawal of the treatment. In addition to the conventional 3-day 10-mg/kg/day regimen and the 10 mg/kg on Day 1 followed by 5 mg/kg on Days 2 to 5 regimens, single dose 30 mg/kg and 3-day 20-mg/kg/day regimens are well-tolerated, although these new dosages are associated with more adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospitals, Turku, Finland. olli.ruuskanen@tyks.fi
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ruuskanen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017963:Azithromycin