The antibiotic azithromycin did not alleviate future incidents of wheezing among infants and toddlers with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to research published in NEJM Evidence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that almost all children are affected by RSV by the time they are 2 years old. RSV often causes cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, fever, or cough. However, it can also lead to severe outcomes, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis – an inflammation of the airways. Infants hospitalized for RSV have been more likely to experience wheezing or asthma later in childhood. Therefore, researchers have tested different therapeutic approaches, including asthma treatment, to see if any may alleviate long-term wheezing.
After randomizing 200 children who received hospital care for RSV-related bronchiolitis to receive azithromycin therapy or a placebo for 14 days, the researchers found no difference in future incidents of wheezing, which was measured for 2-4 years.
The clinical research trial was funded by the NHLBI.