how to cope when there is a shortage of this antibiotic for children

Antibiotic shortages have grow to be a major challenge to children’s health. For example, amoxicillin and cephalexin are amongst probably the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for children to treat a variety of bacterial infections. They were each deficient liquid preparations In recent years.

Now one other common antibiotic – azithromycin – is combating shortages of liquid preparations. Parents must shop around multiple pharmacies to find the antibiotic their child needs.

According to Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) the shortage is expected to last until the tip of November.

So what causes these deficiencies and what are the alternatives when you cannot buy this medicine for your child?

First of all, what is azithromycin used for?

Azithromycin, sold under brand names equivalent to Zithromax, Zithro or just Azithromycin, is one of our most patient-friendly antibiotics. It requires only a once-daily dose, and courses are short (normally five days or less). It works against a big selection of bacteria and is available in liquid and tablet form.

In childhood, azithromycin is used to treat respiratory diseases equivalent to whooping cough (whooping cough) i Mycoplasma pneumonia.

After a break in a few infectious disease through the Covid pandemic, whooping cough now it’s growing amongst Australian children. Cases Mycoplasma pneumonia also increased in last months. Therefore, this is not a good time to be deficient in liquid azithromycin.

Azithromycin is also very useful for children living in distant indigenous communities. Can be utilized in treatment wet cough or Zone A Irritated throats (attributable to group A streptococcal bacteria). If these infections are left untreated, they’ll lead to everlasting lung damage or rheumatic fever.

Moreover, Australia is the one high-income country where trachoma exists. This eye infection affects people living in distant indigenous communities and could cause blindness over time. Azithromycin is the one effective one antibiotic to prevent blindness attributable to this infection.

Supply chain problems

Last reports suggest a whole lot of drugs there is a shortage of them in Australia. These shortages reflect complex global supply chains.

There are production problems or a sudden increase in demand common reasons for medicine shortages. TGA he quoted “an unexpected increase in consumer demand” because the cause of the azithromycin shortage, so the rationale would be the sudden resurgence of whooping cough in Australia and around the globe.

Of course, deficiencies also affect many medications that adults take. But here’s the thing it disproportionately affects children because they depend on them syrups and liquids, that are produced less incessantly than tablets. Syrups or liquid preparations may only have one approved supplier, whereas tablets are likely to have multiple suppliers.

What when you cannot get a liquid formula?

Alternatives to azithromycin present challenges. Clarithromycin requires twice-daily dosing, the liquid form has a bitter taste, and at the very least this drug does too within the face of shortage. Doxycycline The medicine only is available in tablet form and is not normally given to children under eight years of age.

For a sore throat attributable to Strep A, an alternate to azithromycin is a longer course of oral antibiotics (20 doses versus five doses) or benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin Los Angeles), a medicine given by injection. But the second option is there painful AND also missing.

TGA recently announced the temporary supply of one other brand Liquid form of azithromycin registered abroad. This will hopefully alleviate supply issues in the approaching months. It may also need leadership to ensure reasonable prices.

Are tablets the answer?

Shopping when your child is sick could be difficult and frustrating.

If you possibly can’t find a liquid form and think your child might swallow the tablet, ask your doctor if he or she will prescribe a tablet.

Parents might help children learn this skill practicing swallowing tic-tacs, mints or other small sweets of a similar shape.

Trying Panadol or Nurofen tablets when your child has a fever is one other way to see if he or she will start swallowing the tablets, so that you’re ready for the change.

Some children as young as three can do this, but it surely is generally not advisable for children until the age of 4and most learn from the age of six or older.

Can I split the tablet?

Healthy baby development signifies that the dose of medicine each baby needs is continuously changing. Syrups and liquids are easier to measure, depending on the body weight of each child.

If the proper dose is half or a quarter of a tablet, the azithromycin tablets could be divided and crushed.

However, dividing tablets is less accurate. Splitting and crushing tablets also increases the bitter taste, which could also be masked by the outer coating of the tablet.

To mask the bitterness, mix the crushed tablet with a teaspoon of Nutella, jam or cream.

We need solutions

Antibiotic shortages can affect every child, including probably the most vulnerable across Australia.

Part of the issue is interconnected global supply chains with a limited number of producers of essential antibiotics. You should quickly look for alternative suppliers.

Additionally, Australia needs higher systems to monitor and communicate the chance of stock shortages to reduce its impact. Communicating drug shortages in a timely, effective and widespread manner is not going to solve the issue, but it can help clinicians, parents and families address these challenges.