The popular antibiotic Zithromax (also sold as Z-Max or Z-Pak) is a widely prescribed antibiotic, but it has received lots of negative publicity lately for alleged serious Zithromax side effects.

However, most of the Zithromax side effects talked about are the ones that affect adult consumers, when in fact there are also some serious Zithromax side effects experienced by children, especially infants.

According to a research study presented at this year’s Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), infants who are given Zithromax (azithromycin) during the first two weeks of life are at a markedly greater risk of developing infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS).

IHPS is a medical condition in which the opening from the stomach to the small intestines becomes narrowed. This in turn causes an infant to suffer from severe projectile vomiting, which can then lead to weight loss, poor feeding, dehydration, and other secondary side effects.

The study observed a group of 163 infants given Zithromax within the first 14 days of life and discovered that young children were allegedly more likely to develop IHPS as a result of taking Zithromax if it was introduced during the first two weeks of life.

To a lesser degree, infants given Zithromax between 2 and 6 weeks after birth were also likely to develop IHPS, though to a lesser degree than infants two weeks of age or less.

According to Dr. Matthew Eberly of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, one of the researchers in this study, stated, “practitioners must carefully weigh the risks and benefits when prescribing azithromycin [in young infants]. These infants should be monitored for signs and symptoms of [the condition] for 6 weeks following treatment with azithromycin.”

While the risk of infants developing Zithromax IHPS is virtually non-existent after 43 days of life, the doctors involved in this study have advised that infants younger than this, and especially those of two weeks of age or less, should be given Zithromax with caution and be carefully monitored after the drug is administered.

Zithromax does not only carry health side effects for infant patients, but also poses some serious health concerns for adult consumers.

Serious Zithromax Side Effects and Health Concerns in Adults

While Zithromax is an antibiotic drug effective in combating bacterial infections such as pneumonia, tonsillitis, and others, it has recently come under fire for a number consumer reports and Zithromax lawsuits that allege patients have suffered from heart attacks, liver damage, allergic skin reactions, and other serious side effects after taking Zithromax.

Some serious health conditions allegedly linked to Zithromax include:

• Stevens Johnson Syndrome
• Liver Failure
• Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
• Cardiovascular Problems
• Sudden Death

Additional physical Zithromax side effects reported by Pfizer Inc. on the drug’s marketing and packaging include:

• Chest pain, uneven heartbeats
• Severe skin reaction
• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
• Stomach pain or upset
• Dizziness, tired feeling, or headache
• Nervous feeling, sleep problems (insomnia)
• Vaginal itching or discharge
• Mild itching or skin rash
• Ringing in your ears, problems with hearing
• Decreased sense of taste or smell

Because of the serious health conditions many consumers have allegedly developed from Zithromax, many individuals have filed Zithromax heart problem lawsuits or joined Zithromax class action lawsuits to seek compensation from Pfizer.