[Follow up of 16 cases with congenital toxoplasmosis treated with azithromycin].
OBJECTIVE
To study the therapeutic effects of azithromycin in treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis in children.


METHODS
Definite diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis was made on the basis of clinical manifestation combined with one or more positive results of the following laboratory tests and excluded other congenital infectious diseases: toxoplasma DNA (TOX-DNA), circulating toxoplasma antigen (TOX-CAG), and toxoplasma IgM antibody (TOX-IgM). All the patients were given oral azithromycin 10 mg/(kg.d) for 6 days followed by 8 days without medication (one course of treatment), and the regimen was persisted for 2 months and then another 2-month treatment was given at a 1-month interval. The authors continued to provide further treatment according to the state of the illness at one month interval. The patients received 2 to 8 (average 5) courses of treatment. The patients were followed-up for 2.5 to 5 (average 4) years.


RESULTS
The treatment was effective in all the patients and the patient's condition was improved. The authors repeated in 12 cases the four tests for toxoplasma (TOX-DNA, TOX-CAG, TOX-IgM, and TOX-IgG) 9 months to one and a half years after treatment. In 10 cases all these tests showed negative results, in 2 cases TOX-IgG was positive and in the other 4 cases symptoms disappeared.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study showed that oral azithromycin had significant therapeutic effects with little side effect and was well tolerated. Azithromycin may become an alternative therapy in treatment of congenital Toxoplasma gondii infection in children.
Chen
Gui-fang
GF
Department of Pediatrics, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Haikou 570311, China.
Fang
Yin-huai
YH
Guo
De-xing
DX
Feng
Xiao-wei
XW
Xiang
Wei
W
Ruan
He-qiu
HQ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin