Comparison of the Effect of Azithromycin and Cefixime on Dysentery in Children Referred to Zahedan University Medical Centers

Abstract

Aims Bloody diarrhea is mainly caused by infectious agents (bacterial and parasitic), especially Shigella or Entamoeba species, and causes high mortality, especially in children. This study was conducted to compare the effects of azithromycin and cefixime on the treatment of dysentery in children referred to Zahedan University Medical Centers. Methods & Materials The participants of the present experimental study were 116 children aged 6 months to 5 years referred to Zahedan University Medical Centres diagnosed with dysentery by pediatricians with blood reported in their diarrhea stools. Dysentery was considered diarrhea with blood or diarrhea confirmed by stool tests. At the beginning of the study, patients’ names and contact numbers were obtained from patients’ families at the clinic. The blocking method with quadruple blocks was used for random allocation. The patients studied were in groups A and B. Group A received azithromycin for five days, with 12 mg/kg on the first day and 6 mg/kg over the next four days. Group B also received cefixime at 8 mg/kg daily for five days. Then, on the fifth day after the start of treatment, they were called to check the cases. Finally, the information was recorded and analysed. Findings In the present study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the average time of cessation of fever (P=0.887), the average time of cessation of blood excretion in feces (P=0.101), the average time of cessation of abdominal pain (P=0.133), and the average time of cessation of diarrhea (P=0.189). Conclusion In general, there was no clear clinical difference in the use of cefixime and azithromycin in the clinical recovery of children with dysentery. As a result, depending on the patient’s condition and the severity of the disease, it is recommended that the correct choice of these drugs be based on the physicians’ clinical experience and the patient’s condition.