A RANDOMISED CONTROL STUDY TO COMPARE THE EFFICACY OF CEFUROXIME, CLARITHROMYCIN, AND LEVOFLOXACIN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PAEDIATRIC UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION

GOUTHAMI PADUGUNDLA; JYOTHIRMAYEE V; BETHALA RAVALI; JAGILLAPURAM ARUNDHATHI; THAKUR SRILATHA; NOORBASHA NISSI; ARSHIYA ANJUM

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2021.v14i10.42957

Authors

GOUTHAMI PADUGUNDLA Department of Pediatrics, RVM Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telengana, India.
JYOTHIRMAYEE V Department of Pharmacy Practice, Geethanjali College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Telangana, India.
BETHALA RAVALI Department of Pharmacy Practice, Geethanjali College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Telangana, India.
JAGILLAPURAM ARUNDHATHI Department of Pharmacy Practice, Geethanjali College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Telangana, India.
THAKUR SRILATHA Department of Pharmacy Practice, Geethanjali College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Telangana, India.
NOORBASHA NISSI Department of Pharmacy Practice, Geethanjali College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Telangana, India.
ARSHIYA ANJUM Department of Pharmacy Practice, Geethanjali College of Pharmacy, Medchal, Telangana, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2021.v14i10.42957

Keywords:

Upper respiratory tract infections, Clarithromycin, Cefuroxime, Levofloxacin, Pediatrics

Abstract

Background: The upper respiratory infections cause considerable morbidity mainly in children due to the fact that they mainly affect children. Accordingly, a study was conducted on antibiotics to compare the effectiveness of clarithromycin, cefuroxime, and levofloxacin for treating upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in children.

Methods: A prospective observational study for a period of 6 months was conducted in the pediatrics department of RVM hospital. Outpatients under the age of 14 years given antibiotics for the treatment of URTI were included in the study. A total of 99 study subjects were included in the study, divided into three groups each containing 33 sample sizes (clarithromycin, cefuroxime, and levofloxacin). Patient data was collected using a form and verbal consent was obtained from patients/patient representatives, and drugs were given using the lottery method. Follow-up was done and noted for the 3rd, 5th, 7th day through telephonic calls, and the collected data were evaluated using statistical analysis.

Results: Pool data from 99 patients shows that many patients belong to 0–5 years age groups (age distribution), and males were more than female (gender distribution). Clarithromycin (cure rate 3 days) and cefuroxime (cure rate 5 days) showed an equal rate of cure percentage (94%), while levofloxacin for 3–5 days with a 3% failure rate. A significant difference of p<0.05 (p=0.000) was observed and no adverse events were noted.

Conclusion: The study findings showed, out of 3 drugs, clarithromycin and cefuroxime showed an equal efficacy rate of 94%, but clarithromycin showed shorter duration of outcome, i.e., 3 days. Hence, clarithromycin is effective than the other two drugs in the treatment of URTI.

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