5 year old and azithromycin

[Tconnor]

My 5 year old is under respiratory for possible asthma she has had he tonsils and adenoids removed in jan. She is always unwell In the winter months and the consultant has presecribed her this medicine anyone else child on this and what’s your thoughts?

[Hidden]

Azithromycin is usually used by taking 1 tablet three times a week. Usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I know children with cystic fibrosis take it, as it prevents infections, not to cure them. I should check the dose, and ask the GP for confirmation about the reasons for giving your daughter Azithromycin.

beta.nhs.uk/medicines/azith...

[Symes]

As far as respiratory issues are concerned, I’ve only ever heard of Azithromycin being prescribed to adults with COPD, not 5 year olds with asthma.

It can be prescribed for other things too - see here en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azi...

Might be worth double checking with the doctors. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Symes]

I have it for Bronchiectasis Symes, but I can't confirm that it is used for children with Asthma. Although the instructions in the link I posted does say it can be used for children. I mentioned children with Cystic Fibrosis as they almost always end up with Bronch and Pseudomonas.

[Symes in reply to Hidden]

I have Bronchiectasis too, as well as COPD, so maybe I was given it for that.

I’m so confused!

[Hidden in reply to Symes]

It's bad enough having one lung condition, but 3 One Asthma nurse tried to convince me I had COPD! My consultant soon pooh poohed that. Phew. That really would have been too confusing.

[Cavair]

Hi, while I'm not sure about children on this, I've been on Azithromycin for last 2 2 yrs or so. I was getting loads of chest infections, having had lifelong asthma - (I'm mid 60s now) then when I moved house and area, my new consultant put me on it 3x per week. While I was at first worried about being on long term antibiotics, She explained that the neutrafils which normally fight infection are usually replaced in the body on a monthly/28 day cycle but if they don't die off properly you can't fight off infections effectively. The Azithromycin helps the immune system by killing off the older neutrafils in the blood so they can be replaced. Obviously for some reason the body doesn't do the job properly.

They have certainly helped me in the last 2 1/2 yrs and have only had 1 chest infection. So even tho I don't fully understand how the body works in this way I just know I've been better for it, but still get breathless at times but then my lungs have already been damaged... i ve never smoked either!

So I would think these tablets should help your child. Ask the doctor for more explanation to rest your mind.

Hopefully my experience will help you and that your child will only be on them short term as they recover and get any asthma under control.

All the best, Richard

[Tconnor]

Hi both

Thanks for your reply.

My daughter started on the antibiotics In March and was told to have a break through the summer. She has been off them since June and when we go back to clinic she may be started on them again. My daughter constantly had croup every month from October to March everytime needing steriods. My daughter has only just turned 5 she has had her adanoids and tonsils removed and always being sick when ever she jumped around like lots of white yuck. Since my daughter has been on the medicine 3 times a week she has been fine I am worried about the winter months and my daughter missing a lot of school as she did last year. She is under ENT and respiratory but I feel like she is not getting a proper diagnosis or investigations on why she keeps getting this croup. Sorry for the rant but it is so frustrating.

Terrel.

[risabel59]

Hi, I have a friend who is a pediatric asthma and allergy consultant. ( she’s actually Icelandic ) We discussed Azithromycin, as I take it 3 times a week. I actually asked her the question if she ever uses it that way in kids. She does and she said it can be very effective for some children for a period of time, although it is not an immediate first choice for her and would depend on what else was happening.

I think if you’ve had good results for your daughter and you have follow up appointments with the consultant that prescribed it you should definitely continue.

Best

R

[Tconnor]

Thank you

Yes I think it has been really good for her she’s also on seretide/ ventolin/ montulast . We have just come back off holiday and the cold and croupy cough has started again. The consultant did she if she becomes unwell on holiday start it again, but she was fine on holiday and unwell here 🤔.

Terrel

[Castle411]

My 2.5yr old son started taking azithromycin (3xweek) when he was 18mths old as he is admitted to hospital every 4weeks for viral induced wheeze/asthma (he is also on all sorts of other meds). It didn’t seem to help him so it was stopped after 7mths but we didn’t notice any side effects when he was on it.

Good luck - my one tip would be around how you get the medicine. For us it was a powder which the pharmacist mixed with water to make a liquid and then it only kept for 10days. Eventually we managed to get the Chemist to order smaller bottles and let us mix them up ourselves which meant we got more per prescription and weren’t at the chemist every 10days!

[Tconnor in reply to Castle411]

Hi

Thanks for your reply. Sorry yes it is a powder and I have to mix this myself I was the same with the chemist always going back for more untill they ordered me loads as it was on repeat.

My daughter is never wheezy but it’s the croup and horse voice that worry’s me every time a cold comes on she missed a lot of school time last year and I don’t want this year to be the same.

Thanks

Terrel

[Symes]

Asked a pharmacist friend, and she said Azithromycin is fine for kids with asthma, especially if they get a lot of infections.

[Tconnor]

Hi all

Thanks for your replies.

I do work for the BLF helpline and and ask our respiratory nurses a lot of questions regarding my daughter it’s just nice to hear others experiences. I do think the antibiotics do help my daughter as she doesn’t get any infections or illness while she takes this. Hopefully when she starts this again in September we will have a healthy winter with no time off 😢.

Thanks again

Terrel

[WrenJen]

My daughter who is 8 has a 12 week course of this to clear up a chest infection that had been going on for a year. We did every day for 6 weeks then 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Fingers crossed it has cleared things up and no side affects.

Worst thing as others have said is going back to the pharmacy every few days as the powder made up only lasted 5 days. I too convinced them to show me how to make it up so I could have a few bottles at a time. Hope it works for your daughter.