ANTIBIOTIC-TREATMENT OF ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA IN CHILDREN - DOSING CONSIDERATIONS

Dosing considerations in the use of antibiotics are as important as an tibacterial activity in determining the clinical outcome of pediatric acute otitis media, Clinical aspects of dosing, such as duration and f requency of the daily dosage regimen, and practical aspects, including taste, need for refrigeration and food restrictions, both influence c ompliance with antibiotic therapy, An antibiotic that has a short, sim ple dosing regimen and is convenient to administer and acceptable to b oth parent and child will improve compliance and thus will more reliab ly resolve infection, will decrease the incidence of recurrence and ma y minimize the development of bacterial resistance. Among antibiotics used to treat pediatric acute otitis media, the azalide azithromycin h as a relatively simple once daily, B-day treatment schedule and a plea sant taste, requires no refrigeration and has no food restrictions, Th ese favorable dosing characteristics of azithromycin will enhance comp liance and contribute to the successful resolution of acute otitis med ia.