title: Outcome of azithromycin treatment of active trachoma in Omani school children.
abstract: A prospective cohort study was made of 386 first-grade primary-school children in Oman with active trachoma and 386 matched controls without trachoma. All children were educated about trachoma prevention. In addition, trachoma cases were treated with a single dose of oral azithromycin (20 mg/kg). Trachoma status was evaluated after 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. The follicles and inflammatory signs of active trachoma resolved 6 weeks or more after azithromycin treatment. The protection against subsequent trachoma infection cycles was optimal at 6 months (85.2% of cases, 99.0% of controls infection-free) but declined at 12 months (66.7% of cases, 98.2% of controls infection-free). Clinical evaluation seems to be a useful tool to evaluate the response of azithromycin to active trachoma cases in schoolchildren in a country with limited resources.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandekarf
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mohammed
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012572:School Health Services; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013334:Students; D013997:Time Factors; D014141:Trachoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin