Open-label, randomized study of Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, and Cefprozil in Childhood Sinusitis

Aim: There are many antibiotics used in acute sinusitis in paediatric practice. We planned this study to contribute rational antibacterial treatment considering the clinical efficiency, side effects and cost of the treatment. Materials and methods: Our study was a prospective, randomized and open label study in children. Patients diagnosed as having acute sinusitis based on the major and minor clinical diagnostic criteria were randomized to receive 14 days of amoxicillin (40 mg/kg/day, in 3 doses), 5 days of azithromycin (10 mg/kg/day, single dose for first 3 days and 5 mg/kg/day-single dose for 2 days) and 14 days of cefprozil (30 mg/kg/day, 2 doses). Results: Of a total of 151 patients who were between the ages of5 and 14 years (mean: 8.33±2.82 standard error), 50 patients received amoxicillin, 52 azitromycin and 49 cefprozil. At the end of the treatment improvement rates were 72 %,80.7 %, and 69.3 % respectively (p>0.05). The occurrence rates of adverse effects were 8 %, 7 %, and 10 % in these groups respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We emphasize that clinicians should prefer appropriate antibiotics for acute sinusitis in children, in regard to the parameters of low cost, high compliance and minimum adverse effects.peer-reviewe