"Azithromycin" for children: instructions for use, reviews

Young children get sick often, and, according to statistics, one of the most common diseases in childhood are bacterial infections. They occur both as a complication after viral infections and independently. To stop the growth, development and spread of pathogenic bacteria, doctors prescribe antibiotics.

For children under 12 years of age, there are special pediatric forms and medications with lower dosages than “adult” medications. One of the drugs that has proven itself in therapy is azithromycin suspension for children. Instructions for use, price, reviews and comparison with analogues will help you better understand the mechanism of action of the drug and estimate the cost of the upcoming treatment.

Features of the drug

The drug "Azithromycin" is the newest antibiotic from the macrolide group. It stops the production, growth, reproduction and spread of harmful microorganisms. Has a bacteriological effect.

In its pharmacological properties, this medicine is close to drugs of the penicillin group.

It is more effective and efficient in the treatment of inflammatory processes. It has a more gentle and gentle effect on the child’s body. The drug provokes much fewer side effects, especially those associated with disruption of the digestive process, and also has much less toxicity.

The drug "Azithromycin" is absorbed quite quickly, is resistant to an acidic environment, quickly spreads throughout the body and is not destroyed by gastric juice. The medicine can penetrate the respiratory system, skin and soft tissues.

The principle of action of this antibiotic is that it does not allow the cells of microbial pathogens to synthesize proteins, and without this they simply cannot exist. Over the course of 1-3 days, a high concentration of the drug is formed in the area of ​​inflammation, which contributes to the rapid suppression of infectious agents. The elimination period of the drug is quite slow and takes approximately 5-6 days, which contributes to its long-term preservation in the area of ​​inflammation. Azithromycin is excreted in urine and bile.

When children use Azithromycin (250 mg), they need to undergo periodic examination to exclude the occurrence of serious side effects.

Composition and release form

According to the instructions for use, Azithromycin for children is available in several versions, which makes it easy to select the required medicine. The drug is available in the following forms:

• powder;
• pills;
• capsules.

The active substance has a rather complex, multi-level formula and chemical nature.

The powder is presented in the form of white granules or crystals with a creamy yellow tint. The powder is packaged in bottles, into which you need to add water to prepare a suspension. The package contains a dosage syringe and a spoon.

The 5 ml powder form after preparing the Azithromycin suspension for children will contain 100 mg of the active ingredient. The prepared product has a sweet taste and pleasant aroma, so many children drink this syrup with great pleasure.

Azithromycin tablets are available in both dispersible agents and coated dosage forms. The content of the active substance in such a drug is often equal to 125 and 500 mg, but there are drugs with 250 and 1000 mg of azithromycin. The drug is packaged in a blister of 3 or 6 tablets.

One Azithromycin capsule for children contains 250 mg of the active ingredient. A less common dosage is 500 mg. One package contains 3, 6, 10 or 12 capsules.

Indications for use

The drug "Azithromycin" is prescribed to children for diseases caused by microorganisms sensitive to it. The main indications include:

• sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis, pharyngitis;
• pustular diseases, erysipelas;
• cervicitis, urethritis.

In addition, the drug is prescribed for peptic ulcers and gastritis caused by the Helicobacter bacterium.

The drug "Azithromycin" has a detrimental effect on bacteria such as:

• streptococci;
• mycoplasma and ureaplasma;
• anaerobic microflora.

Sometimes its use is allowed for tissue damage by spirochetes.

Operating principle

As stated in the instructions, Azithromycin for children belongs to the group of macrolides. These antibiotics have a broad spectrum of action and help destroy harmful bacteria. After the active substance enters the body of a sick person, they are delivered to the area of ​​inflammation and penetrate through the cell walls.

The drug is absorbed quite quickly, with the result that after about 2-3 hours its concentration in the systemic circulation will be the maximum possible. After completing its administration, the medicine will circulate in the plasma for 5-7 days, providing the required therapeutic effect.

In moderate dosage, the drug can suppress the ongoing processes of protein formation in bacterial cells, as a result of which their reproduction slows down. High concentrations of the drug destroy the pathogen.

At what age can it be taken?

Children in the form of a suspension are allowed to take the drug "Azithromycin" from 6 months. However, in any case, before using it, you need to consult your doctor, who will determine the optimal dosage for the child.

The drug "Azithromycin" for children 125 mg is approved for use by children starting from 3 years of age. Capsules with this dosage are allowed to be used from 6 years of age.

Azithromycin 250 mg tablets and capsules for children are prescribed from the age of 12, provided that the patient’s weight is more than 45 kg.

You need to take antibiotics according to strict indications and after a doctor’s prescription. Before taking this remedy, you need to check how sensitive the microflora is to it. To do this, you should take a throat culture.

Reviews

Parents' opinion

There are many positive reviews on the Internet about Azithromycin suspension. Parents like that the drug is inexpensive and only needs to be taken once a day for 3-5 days.

Negative reviews are due to the fact that the drug causes allergies, disrupts the intestinal microflora, and provokes other undesirable reactions.

Komarovsky's opinion

Evgeniy Olegovich believes that only a pediatrician should prescribe Azithromycin, like other antibiotics, for infections of bacterial etiology. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the sensitivity of microorganisms to the antimicrobial agent, the age of the patient, the presence of contraindications to the initiation of antibiotic therapy and its tolerability.

The antibiotic is available by prescription, so only the doctor should decide how to take Azithromycin for a child.

By

Tablet form

Before starting treatment, pathogenic microflora are analyzed for sensitivity to the drug. The use of the drug is prescribed only if a bacterial form of infection is confirmed.

According to the instructions for use, Azithromycin for children 125 and 250 mg can be prescribed starting from 3 years. However, it is worth considering that the child’s body weight must be more than 12.5 kg, and he must also be able to swallow this form of the drug normally.

According to the instructions, Azithromycin (250) is prescribed to children at a dosage of 10 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day. The course of therapy can last 3 days. If the next dose of antibiotic was missed, then the medicine should be taken as quickly as possible, and subsequent dosages should be taken at daily intervals.

The drug is taken outside of meals (about two hours after eating). The time for taking the medicine should be strictly fixed, for example, at 10 am. According to the instructions for use of Azithromycin 250, children are prohibited from chewing tablets or capsules. The drug should be taken with plenty of water. It is most convenient to drink capsules, as they glide easily and do not leave any unpleasant sensations on the tongue. Azithromycin tablets are prescribed to 250 older children who can easily take them correctly.

In the presence of various types of respiratory infections, children over 12 years of age are prescribed the drug at a dosage of 500 mg. It must be taken for 3 days.

To eliminate acne, you usually drink 500 mg of the drug for at least 3 days. Then continue to take 250 mg twice a week. The duration of therapy is at least 9 days.

3 Azithromycin tablets - instructions for use

The medicine is most often produced in 3 tablets of 500 mg - a standard dose that is effective in the treatment of infectious diseases. Azithromycin 500 mg is used to treat the respiratory system, digestion, urogenital infections, inflammation of the skin and muscle tissue. Recommended for patients over 12 years of age who weigh more than 45 kg. Take 1-2 hours before meals or after:

• ENT diagnoses, laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, inflammation of the bronchi and pulmonary segments - 0.5 g per day, continuing for 3 days;
• infections of the genitourinary system, prostate, urethra, internal and external female organs - 1-1.5 g of the drug at a time;
• infection of soft tissues, inflammation of the skin - 1 g on the first day, then 0.5 g for the remaining 4 days.

Suspension

Children are mainly prescribed the drug in syrup form. This allows not only to accurately select the dosage, but is also more positively perceived by children and parents. According to the instructions, Azithromycin suspension for children is taken orally once a day, the required volume of antibiotic is pre-drawn out using a syringe or measuring spoon, or a special syringe.

The intake should take place no earlier than an hour before a meal or two hours after a meal. After this, you need to give the child a small amount of plain water to drink. If you miss a dose of the drug, you need to take it as quickly as possible, and take the next dose of the drug after 24 hours.

The dosage of the drug is selected depending on the child’s body weight. The daily amount of Azithromycin suspension for children weighing 15-24 kg is 200 mg/5 ml, 25-34 kg - 7.5 ml, 35-44 kg - 10 ml. This amount is most relevant for bacterial respiratory infections. For migrating erythema, a double dosage of the drug is prescribed. The course of therapy generally lasts 3 days, but the therapeutic course can be continued by the doctor for up to 5 days.

The 100 mg/5 ml suspension form is intended for children of the first year of life. The drug is taken once a day. The dosage is 0.5 ml of syrup per kilogram of body weight. In this case, the medicine can be used only if the child weighs at least 5 kg.

It is very important to prepare the suspension correctly. It is prepared right before use. Add 11 ml of boiled chilled water to a bottle with 100 mg of the drug, using a syringe dispenser, and shake thoroughly until a homogeneous mixture is formed.

Vials with 200 mg are diluted with 14.5 ml of water. In this case, the concentration of the drug is slightly higher. The prepared medicine is given to the child using a double-sided measuring spoon or a dosing syringe. The diluted drug can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days.

It is more convenient for very young children to give medicine using a dosing syringe. To do this, you need to position the child as if for feeding, carefully insert the tip of the syringe into the baby’s mouth and slowly squeeze out the medicine so that the child has time to swallow it.

How much and how to give

Azithromycin can be given to children only after receiving preliminary consultation from a specialist who has examined the child and made a diagnosis that requires the use of this drug. It is the specialist, and not the parents, who, in accordance with the instructions, can accurately calculate the dosage of the medication.

To make the doctor’s work easier, instructions for the antibiotic have been created, which involve calculating a one-time dose in accordance with the baby’s body weight. For infants, the dose is calculated especially accurately in order to prevent possible health problems and the development of adverse reactions in the baby.

The dosage is calculated based on the baby’s weight; for each kilogram there should be 10 mg of the active substance Azithromycin.

The use of a drug with a dosage of 100 mg per 5 ml involves the use of 0.5 ml of the prepared solution:

• for a baby weighing 5 kg, a dose of 2.5 ml of the drug is required (which is equal to 50 mg of the active substance);
• for weight 6 kg – 3 ml;
• for 7 kg – 3.5 ml;
• weight from 10 to 14 kg requires the baby to receive 5 ml of the finished solution.

For a three-year-old child weighing 15 kg, a dose of 150 mg of azithromycin will be sufficient. To obtain this amount of active substance, it is necessary to give Azithromycin to the child in the form of a suspension with other dosages of 200 mg per 5 ml:

• children from 15 to 25 kg of body weight (this is approximately 6-8 years old) receive 5 ml of the drug (this is 200 mg of the active ingredient);
• children from 25 to 35 kg of weight (9-10 years old) receive medication with a dose of 7.5 ml;
• children weighing from 35 to 45 kg (11-12 years old) can receive 400 mg per day, which equals 10 ml of solution;
• children over 12 years of age weighing 45 kg or more receive 12.5 ml of suspension at a time, which is equal to 500 mg of the main component. This dose assumes the use of capsules or tablets used in adult patients.

Side effects

When using Azithromycin, the following side effects may occur:

• nausea with vomiting;
• visual impairment;
• diarrhea;
• the occurrence of discomfort in the abdomen.

Rarely, side effects such as:

• convulsions;
• rashes and skin itching;
• drowsiness;
• headache;
• gastritis;
• dizziness;
• drowsiness.

In some patients, as a result of taking the drug, hearing deteriorated and ringing in the ears appeared. Most disorders disappear over time.

Azithromycin

Most of the observed adverse reactions are reversible after completion of the course of treatment or discontinuation of the drug.

Classification of the frequency of side effects (WHO): very often (with a frequency of more than 1/10), often (with a frequency of at least 1/100, but less than 1/10), infrequently (with a frequency of at least 1/1000, but less than 1 /100), rare (with a frequency of at least 1/10,000, but less than 1/1000), very rare (with a frequency of less than 1/10,000), including individual messages.

From the circulatory and lymphatic systems:

often - lymphocytopenia, eosinophilia; uncommon - leukopenia, neutropenia; rarely - thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia.

From the central nervous system:

often - dizziness, headache, paresthesia, impaired perception of taste, anorexia; infrequently - anxiety, nervousness, hyposthesia, insomnia, drowsiness; rarely - agitation, delirium, hallucinations; very rarely - fainting, convulsions, psychomotor hyperactivity, aggression, anosmia, loss of taste, parosmia, exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, perversion of smell.

From the senses:

uncommon - hearing impairment, vertigo, visual impairment; unknown frequency - hearing impairment, including deafness and/or tinnitus.

From the respiratory system and
JIOP - organs:
infrequently - shortness of breath, nosebleeds.

From the cardiovascular system:

infrequently - a feeling of palpitations, “flushes” of blood to the face; very rarely - decreased blood pressure, arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, increased QT interval, arrhythmia.

Infectious diseases:

uncommon - rhinitis, respiratory diseases, pharyngitis, pneumonia, candidiasis, including the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and genitals, gastroenteritis.

From the digestive system:

very often - nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence (bloating), often - vomiting; uncommon - belching, dysphagia, gastritis, constipation, dryness of the oral mucosa, ulcers of the oral mucosa, increased secretion of the salivary glands; very rarely - discoloration of the tongue, pseudomembranous colitis, pancreatitis.

From the liver and biliary tract:

uncommon - hepatitis, hyperbilirubinemia, increased activity of liver transaminases; very rarely - cholestatic jaundice, liver failure (in rare cases, fatal, mainly due to liver dysfunction), fulminant hepatitis, liver necrosis.

Allergic reactions:

often - itching, rash; uncommon - Stevens-Johnson syndrome, photosensitivity, urticaria; rarely - anaphylactic reactions (including angioedema) in rare cases with fatal outcome, toxic epidermal necrolysis. erythema multiforme.

For the skin and subcutaneous tissues:

dry skin, dermatitis, sweating.

From the musculoskeletal system:

often - arthralgia; uncommon - osteoarthritis, myalgia, neck pain, back pain.

From the genitourinary system:

uncommon - increased residual urea nitrogen and plasma creatinine concentration, dysuria, pain in the kidneys, metrorrhagia. testicular dysfunction; very rarely - interstitial nephritis, acute renal failure.

Other:

often - weakness; uncommon - chest pain, peripheral edema, asthenia (malaise, feeling tired); Uncommon: facial swelling, fever.

Laboratory data:

often - an increase in the number of basophils, monocytes, neutrophils, a decrease in the concentration of bicarbonates in the blood plasma; infrequently - increased alkaline phosphatase activity, increased chlorine content, increased glucose concentration, increased bicarbonate concentration in the blood plasma, increased platelet count, increased hematocrit, change in sodium content in the blood plasma, change in the concentration of potassium in the blood plasma.

Any side effect should be reported to your doctor.

Overdose

According to the instructions for use, "Azithromycin" for children, if used incorrectly, can cause an overdose, so parents must strictly monitor the dosage regimen. Among the main signs of overdose are the following:

• dyspeptic disorders;
• hearing impairment;
• loss of consciousness;
• nausea.

Overdose can occur for several reasons. These include incorrect calculation of dosage, lack of data regarding the patient’s weight, and self-medication.

The medicine should be kept out of the reach of children, and the drug should be taken only after prior consultation with a doctor.

Symptoms of an overdose of Azithromycin may differ slightly. When a large amount of the drug is consumed, pathogens quickly die and decay products, that is, toxic substances, are actively released. These substances penetrate the systemic bloodstream, as a result of which the normal functioning of organs and systems is disrupted, and the course of chronic pathologies is somewhat worsened.

Intoxication caused by an overdose of Azithromycin may result in symptoms such as:

• increased blood pressure;
• headache;
• muscle and joint pain;
• bowel dysfunction;
• increased sweating;
• increased heart rate;
• confusion.

If there is a change in the color of the skin, as well as loss of consciousness, this is a reason to call an ambulance. To quickly stop the signs of an overdose and stop the harmful effects of the drug, you need to rinse the stomach with plenty of water and induce vomiting before the ambulance arrives. In addition, it is recommended to give the child sorbents.

Interaction with other drugs

The drug "Azithromycin" 125, 250 and in the form of a suspension belongs to the group of macrolides. When used together, this drug may affect the concentrations of drugs such as:

• "Cyclosporine";
• "Theophylline";
• "Digoxin".

That is why the concentration of these drugs in the blood must be kept under control. Azithromycin also enhances the toxic effect of Ergotamine, and when taken simultaneously with Terfenadine, arrhythmia develops.

Antacids approved for use by children affect the absorption of Azithromycin, so you should take a break of at least 1 hour between these medications.

Prescription restrictions

In some cases, azithromycin should be prescribed with caution. This is allowed to be done in situations where the benefits of taking this medication outweigh the possible harm. It is also recommended to use azithromycin for children if the pathogen has developed resistance to other antibiotics.

Since the drug sometimes leads to the development of tachycardia, arrhythmias and an increase in the QT interval, it should be used for congenital or acquired heart pathologies under careful control of frequency and rhythm.

There is evidence that with a significant decrease in renal filtration rates, additional accumulation of azithromycin occurs in the body. Therefore, you need to either choose a different drug or use reduced doses.

special instructions

If the time for taking the drug was missed, the prescribed dosage should be taken as quickly as possible. Subsequent dosages of the drug are used at intervals of 24 hours.

Azithromycin is taken at intervals of 1-2 hours, provided that this drug is not taken once. After a full course of therapy, hypersensitivity reactions of the body may persist for a certain time. To eliminate them, it is worth carrying out additional therapeutic actions as prescribed by the doctor.

Azithromycin 500 mg - instructions for use

The daily dosage is taken 1 time per day 1-2 hours before eating or later, keeping a break of 24 hours. If the regimen is violated and therapy is resumed, the next time of administration should be shifted so that there is again a break of 24 hours. The usual duration of treatment is 3 days.

Analogues of the drug

If for some reason Azithromycin cannot be given to children, then it is worth replacing the drug with other antibiotics from the macrolide group. The most popular analogues include:

• "Clarithromycin";
• "Macropen";
• "Sumamed";
• "Macropen";
• "Erythromycin";
• "Wilprafen".

The drug "Clarithromycin" is effective against bacterial infections. It is allowed to be used by children from 6 months of age.

The main active component of the drug "Macropen" is midecamycin. The medicine is available in granules, from which a suspension is prepared. The drug is also produced in tablet form.

The antimicrobial drug Erythromycin was the first macrolide used to treat various infections, so this drug has many side effects.

The drug "Vilprafen" contains the active substance josamycin, so it is prescribed for serious infectious diseases. In childhood, the medicine is used in the form of dispersible tablets.

The drug "Sumamed" contains azithromycin. Young children are prescribed a suspension or tablets starting at 6 months of age.

The drug "Macropen" is a popular antibiotic from the macrolide group, but it has a mild effect. This medicine fights not only microbes, but also inflammation. Can be prescribed to children up to one year old. The main indications for its use include infections of the respiratory system and skin, as well as the treatment and prevention of diphtheria, whooping cough and inflammation of the small intestine.

Contraindications

Depends on the composition of the drug:

• the usual contraindication is individual intolerance to the components;
• given the processing of the antibiotic in the liver, as well as its long-term excretion through the intestines and kidneys, it is contraindicated in severe liver and kidney failure;
• the presence of aspartame in the composition of the medicine does not allow its use for phenylketonuria;
• if the preparation contains fructose, it cannot be used by children with hereditary intolerance;
• If the antibiotic contains sucrose, it is not prescribed for sucrase-isomaltase deficiency and glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.