Azithromycin in the treatment of cholera in children

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of azithromycin in the treatment of cholera in children. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial on 80 children with acute watery diarrhoea and moderate to severe dehydration compared the efficacy of azithromycin and erythromycin in treating cholera. Data were analysed for 56 patients who were stool culture positive for Vibrio cholerae. In conjunction with rehydration therapy, 29 patients received azithromycin and 27 patients received erythromycin. Patients in the two treatment groups had comparable clinical and blood biochemical characteristics on admission. Results: Patients who received azithromycin had significantly less stool output, shorter duration of diarrhoea and lower fluid intake compared with patients who received erythromycin. Conclusion: Azithromycin appears to be superior to erythromycin for treating cholera in children.