According to the results of new medical research study, women who take Zithromax, Z-Pak, and Zmax antibiotic drugs during pregnancy may have an increased risk of giving birth to babies with cerebral palsy birth defects.

In the study, published in the medical journal PLOS One on March 25, researchers from the United Kingdom found that, compared to penicillin, a class of antibiotic drugs known as macrolides, such as Zithromax, increases a baby’s risk of being born with cerebral palsy by close to 80 percent, when taken during pregnancy.

Study Suggests Risk of Cerebral Palsy from Zithromax

The findings of this new birth defects study suggest women who take macrolide antibiotics, like Zithromax, during pregnancy were slightly more likely to give birth to a child with cerebral palsy compared with women who take penicillin.

Researchers involved in the antibiotic study examined data from nearly 200,000 pregnant women, and found that between 19 percent and 44 percent are prescribed antibiotic drugs like Zithromax while pregnant.

This statistic is especially alarming considering the growing body of research that has found a connection between antibiotics used to prevent infections in pregnant women and an increased risk of cerebral palsy in babies exposed to the drugs in utero.

In this study, the researchers looked at several different types of antibiotics commonly prescribed to pregnant women, and found that Zithromax and other macrolide antibiotic drugs were tied to an increased risk of cerebral palsy birth defects.

What Are Macrolide Antibiotics?

Macrolides are a class of antibiotics that are effective against a number of different strains of bacteria. They are often used to treat lung and chest infections. They can also be a useful alternative for people with a penicillin allergy or to treat penicillin-resistant strains of bacteria.

Zithromax is a macrolide antibiotic commonly prescribed and is often preferred by both patients and physicians due to its five-day course, as opposed to other antibiotics’ standard 10-day course. Some of the types of infections that Zithromax is used to treat include bronchitis, ear infections, sinusitis, pneumonia, and strep throat.

Cerebral Palsy Birth Defects in Babies

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that typically occurs when the baby suffers brain damage either before, during or shortly after birth, usually due to an inadequate amount of oxygen being delivered to the brain. This lack of oxygen may result in irreversible damage that can leave the baby with long-term disabilities, including developmental problems, seizures and limitations on motor function.

In the past, most cases of cerebral palsy have been attributed to medical errors on the part of the delivering doctor or hospital, but this new research suggests that some cases of cerebral palsy may be due to side effects of antibiotic drug use, such as Zithromax, in pregnant mothers.

Zithromax Birth Defect Lawsuits

While some children born with cerebral palsy can have very fulfilling lives, many children born with cerebral palsy will have severe physical and mental handicaps. Overall, the economic costs of caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be much more than some families can afford. Therefore, if you believe your child’s cerebral palsy may be related to the use of Zithromax during pregnancy, you may be able to recover compensation through a Zithromax birth defects lawsuit.