Antibiotic azithromycin, known by the Pfizer brand name of Zithromax, allegedly may cause eye injuries in children that can lead to blindness.

Eye injuries and infections in children are particularly common. Azithromycin is often prescribed to treat these because of its shorter usage period compared to other drugs.

However, studies show the antibiotic can trigger subsequent eye injuries in children at a rate higher than those other treatment methods.

In the US, azithromycin is commonly used in children to treat ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, tonsillitis, skin infections and pneumonia.

It has a high rate of compliance because it is usually a short-course therapy, starting with two doses on the first day of treatment followed by one daily dose for four more days. However, like all medications, azithromycin has side effects.

Ironically, azithromycin is administered orally to cure an eye infection known as trachoma, which is caused by certain subtypes of Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium that can also cause the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia.

What Is Trachoma?

Trachoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the world. Almost 80 million people have had trachoma, and almost eight million of those have lost some vision or become completely blind.

Children ages 5 to 15 years in developing countries are most susceptible to trachoma.

It is spread through contact with discharge from the nose or eyes of an infected person. The infection can be transmitted through hands, clothing, towels and even insects.

Signs and symptoms of trachoma usually affect both eyes and may include:

• Mild itching and irritation of the eyes and eyelids
• Discharge from the eyes containing mucus or pus
• Eyelid swelling
• Light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Eye pain

Young children are particularly susceptible to infection. But the disease progresses slowly, and the more painful symptoms may not emerge until adulthood.

Azithromycin eye injuries in children may include scarring of the eyelids which can lead to ingrown eyelashes, which can in turn scratch the cornea, causing pain and vision disturbances.

Azithromycin and Eye Injuries in Children

Azithromycin is so popular as an antibiotic to treat eye infections that it is an integral part of the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy (Surgery for trichiasis; Antibiotics for Chlamydia trachomatis infection; Facial cleanliness; and Environmental improvement) to eliminate blinding trachoma globally by the year 2020.

Oral azithromycin is preferred as a treatment over topical tetracycline ointment in developing countries because it is easier to distribute and to assure adherence to the protocol.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has published a study that gives a theory as to why the azithromycin increases the reinfection rate by nearly four times over those not treated with the antibiotic:

“Although treatment effectively decreases the rates of infection in the short term, the subsequent increasing rates of reinfection likely reflect a shortened period of infection, blunting the immune response and preventing the development of immunity. Immunity is normally elicited over many months, although immunity is not complete in all individuals or sustained even without treatment.”

If your child was prescribed Azithromycin and subsequently suffered from side effects such as trachoma, you may be eligible to file an Azithromycin Eye Injury Lawsuit against Pfizer.  Contact an experienced drug injury attorney today to discuss your legal options at no charge.