Children with frequent ear infections (otitis media) are often treated with "stronger" antibiotics. One common treatment is ten days of Augmentin. It's a combination of the old standby amoxicillin and another drug, clavulanate, which makes the amoxicillin more effective. Augmentin is a good drug, but one side effect, diarrhea, is fairly common.
Azithromycin, sold under the brand name Zithromax, is an antibiotic common used in adults to treat a number of infections. It has few side effects and is convenient to take ‚ one pill a day for three days. It's often used as an alternative in patients with an allergy to Augmentin.
Recent studies have demonstrated that azithromycin is a good first line drug for children with recurrent ear infections. Not only is it easier to give to the child, but there's 10% less diarrhea. In comparing the cure rates of azithromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, at two weeks there was no difference. However, when measure at one month after treatment, the cure rate with the azithromycin was 10% higher.
Parents may be surprised to learn the amount of research there is on ear infections and its treatment. What seems like a simple problem is really quite complex and controversial.
The Journal of Family Practice, 3/04
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