A Prospective Study of Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin and Ofloxacin in the treatment of Typhoid Fever in Children at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial therapy is the mainstay for the treatment of Typhoid fever that shortens the clinical course of typhoid fever and reduces the risk of death. For decades, chloramphenicol has been highly effective against S. typhi, but multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of S. typhi (resistant to chloramphenicol, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin) has restricted its use in typhoid fever. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of Azithromycin and Ofloxacin in children suffering from uncomplicated typhoid fever. Methods: Blood culture proven, uncomplicated typhoid fever patients admitted in the pediatric ward of J. N. Medical college, Aligarh were treated with ofloxacin orally (15mg/kg/24 hrs BD for 5 days) and azithromycin orally (10mg/kg/24 hrs OD on Day 1, then 5mg/kg OD for next 4 days). Patients were clinically and bacteriologically evaluated during the study period and follow-up. Results: 96.7 % cure rate was observed in azithromycin group. No relapse was recorded. Conclusion: Both Ofloxacin as well as azithromycin may be considered as an empirical therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid in children .