Young children get a great many colds at this time of year, but there are not good medications to treat them. Over-the-counter cold medicines do more harm than good for little kids. In addition, pediatricians have been advised by their professional organization to avoid prescribing antibiotics for viral infections. Most children’s sniffles and sneezes are probably caused by viruses.
Could Azithromycin Keep a Cold from Progressing to Wheezing?
Now a study published in JAMA shows that some preschoolers may actually benefit from a course of azithromycin (Zithromax).
Some youngsters have a history of lower respiratory tract infections and wheezing following colds. The usual course of treatment for lower respiratory infections has been corticosteroids like prednisone. Such treatment carries the risk of side effects and doesn’t work all that well for young children.
Randomized Clinical Trial of Antibiotic:
The study compared treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin to placebo in over 600 young children with this dangerous history. They were treated at the first symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection that had led to severe wheezing in the past.
Those who received azithromycin were less likely to need oral corticosteroids and had less severe symptoms. The researchers also looked for evidence that azithromycin treatment led to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and found little to worry them.
This treatment should be restricted to the small population of youngsters who progress quickly from sneezing to wheezing. Azithromycin in adults has the potential to cause a rare but fatal reaction affecting the heart, but no one knows if this serious adverse effect might also apply to young children.
