Safety and Efficacy of Azithromycin in Uncomplicated Typhoid Fever in North Indian Population

Enteric fever is a major public health problem in third world countries including India. In past, many antibiotics have been used in typhoid fever. For the last few years, mu ltidrug resistant strains of salmonella typhi are being reported fro m all parts of the world including Indian subcontinent. The present study , carried out in the north India, was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of azithro mycin in unco mplicated typhoid fever cases. 100 adult proven cases of typhoid fever aged between 18 and 65 years, who d id not took any antib iotic, were included in the study. All patients were given oral azithro mycin 1 g m on day 1 follo wed by 500mg daily fro m day 2 to 7. Azithro mycin therapy was well tolerated in most of the patients. Cure rate of 98% with mean fever clearance time of 3.66+/-0.91 days was achieved in our study .Side effects were not serious enough to withhold the treatment.Thus it is concluded that azithro mycin is an effective and safe oral agent for treatment for typhoid fever.