02441nas a2200361   4500000000100000008004100001260003400042653002400076653005700100653002100157653001700178653001700195653002200212100001800234700001400252700001300266700001500279700001400294700001100308700001400319700001200333700001500345700001300360700001200373700001200385700001200397700001200409700001200421245010900433856010400542520140800646022002502054       2022                            d  bOxford University Press (OUP)10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aGeneral Medicine10aParasitology10aAzithromycin10aPharmacovigilance1 aCiciriello AM1 aAddiss DG1 aTeferi T1 aEmerson PM1 aHooper PJ1 aSeid M1 aTadesse G1 aSeife F1 aSormolo MJ1 aKebede F1 aKiflu G1 aWest SK1 aAlemu M1 aLaCon G1 aGebre T00aAn observational assessment of the safety of mass drug administration for trachoma in Ethiopian children  uhttps://academic.oup.com/trstmh/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/trstmh/trac006/42363114/trac006.pdf3 a<p>Abstract</p>

<p>Background The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) provides azithromycin for mass drug administration (MDA) to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Azithromycin is given as tablets for adults and powder for oral suspension (POS) is recommended for children aged &amp;lt;7 y, children &amp;lt;120 cm in height (regardless of age) or anyone who reports difficulty in swallowing tablets. An observational assessment of MDA for trachoma was conducted to determine the frequency with which children aged 6 mo through 14 y received the recommended dose and form of azithromycin according to current dosing guidelines and to assess risk factors for choking and adverse swallowing events (ASEs). Methods MDA was observed in three regions of Ethiopia and data were collected on azithromycin administration and ASEs. Results A total of 6477 azithromycin administrations were observed; 97.9% of children received the exact recommended dose. Of children aged 6 mo to &amp;lt;7 y or &amp;lt;120 cm in height, 99.6% received POS. One child experienced choking and 132 (2%) experienced ≥1 ASEs. Factors significantly associated with ASEs included age 6–11 mo or 1–6 y, non-calm demeanor and requiring coaxing prior to drug administration. Conclusions There is a high level of adherence to the revised azithromycin dosing guidelines and low incidence of choking and ASEs.</p>
  a0035-9203, 1878-3503