Waqar Hussain, Ahsan Ahmad, Anita Lamichhane, Asfand Tariq, Muhammad Aslam Khan.
Use of azithromycin in uncomplicated enteric fever as first line antibiotic.
Pak Paed J Jan ;36(2):81-6.

Introduction: Enteric fever is a systemic infection caused by the bacteria, Salmonella enterica serovara Typhi (S.typhi) and Salmonella enterica serovara Paratyphi (S. paratyphi A, B and C). Disease burden is more in the developing countries. There is day by day increase in the multidrug resistant strains. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of azithromycin as a first line antibiotic in the treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever. Methods: This case series study was conducted in 83 children between 2-12 years of age in Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Those patients who were Typhidot and/or blood culture positive included in this study and treated with azithromycin 20mg/kg/ single dose daily for 7 days. Results: Out of the 83 children enrolled, 75(90.36%) completed the study as the eight children lost to follow up. Male to female ratio was 1.6:1 with common age group between 8-12 years. S.typhi was isolated in 5(6.67%) cases and all achieve bacteriological cure by day 7. Mean (SD) duration of fever at presentation was 5±3.07 days. Clinical cure was seen in 71 (94.6%) subjects. Mean day of response was 4 days. There was no death in the study. No serious adverse event was observed in the study. Conclusion: Azithromycin was found to be safe and efficacious for the management of uncomplicated typhoid fever in a dose of 20 mg/kg/day per oral once a day for seven days.

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