%0 Journal Article
%T Efficacy of oral azithromycin versus topical tetracycline in mass treatment of endemic trachoma
%A Fraser-Hurt
%A Nicole
%A Bailey
%A Robin L.
%A Cousens
%A Simon
%A Mabey
%A Denise
%A Faal
%A Hannah
%A Mabey
%A David C.W.
%J Bulletin of the World Health Organization
%D 2001
%I World Health Organization
%R 10.1590/S0042-96862001000700008
%X objective: to compare the impact of mass treatment with oral azithromycin and topical tetracycline on the prevalence of active trachoma. methods: a total of 1803 inhabitants from 106 households of eight gambian villages were randomized, in pairs, to receive either three doses of azithromycin at weekly intervals, or daily topical tetracycline over 6 weeks. ocular examinations were conducted before treatment, and 2, 6 and 12 months after treatment. findings: prior to treatment, 16% of the study participants had active trachoma. two months after treatment, the prevalence of trachoma was 4.6% and 5.1% in the azithromycin and the tetracycline groups, respectively (adjusted odds ratio (or) = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (ci) = 0.53, 2.02). subsequently, the prevalence rose to 16% in the tetracycline group, while remaining at 7.7% in the azithromycin group (adjusted or at 12 months = 0.52; 95% ci = 0.34, 0.80). at 12 months post-treatment, there were fewer new prevalent cases in the azithromycin group, and trachoma resolution was significantly better for this group (adjusted or = 2.02; 95% ci = 1.42, 3.50). conclusion: oral azithromycin therefore appears to offer a means for controlling blinding trachoma. it is easy to administer and higher coverages may be possible than have been achieved hitherto.
%K trachoma [drug therapy]
%K azithromycin [therapeutic use]
%K tetracycline [therapeutic use]
%K clinical trials
%K comparative study
%K gambia.
%U http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0042-96862001000700008&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en