[Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on azithromycin in children].

Azithromycin (AZM) in fine granules was studied for its pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacies in eight child patients with ages between 1 month and 8 years. Informed consent was received from all of their parents. AZM was administered to the patients once a day at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 3 days. The clinical efficacies of AZM in 8 patients with microbial infections (pneumonia in one, Mycoplasma pneumonia in two, acute tonsillitis in one, pertussis in one, Campylobacter enteritis in one, infectious enteritis in one, Salmonella enteritis in one) were evaluated as "excellent" in five cases, "good" in two and "not evaluable" in one. As for the microbial efficacy, isolated strains were eradicated in 2 out of 3 patients. No adverse reaction was found except for one case with abnormal laboratory change, that is mildly increased GPT value. Plasma samples were collected from 3 cases. The elimination half-life of AZM was 45.8 hours. AUC0-infinity was 12.6 micrograms.hr/ml. Urine sample was collected from one. AZM concentration in urine was 35.0 micrograms/ml during a period between 48 and 72 hours after the start of treatment.