zithromax and Cyanosis

An 8-month-old infant with cyanotic heart disease and transfusion-associated Babesia microti infection is reported here. At initial presentation, she was ill appearing, febrile and cyanotic. Laboratory tests revealed severe anemia, thrombocytopenia and an increase in hepatic enzymes. The diagnosis was made by the presence of intraerythrocytic parasites on thin blood smear and confirmed by serology and polymerase chain reaction. The infant was treated successfully with a combination of oral azithromycin and atovaquone. This combination is an alternative to clindamycin and quinine for the treatment of children with babesiosis.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Protozoan; Antiprotozoal Agents; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Blood Transfusion; Cyanosis; DNA, Protozoan; Erythrocytes; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; Heart Diseases; Humans; Infant; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Seven-week-old 32-week premature triplets were hospitalized because of rhinorrhea, cough with color change and posttussive emesis. One infant had a positive direct fluorescent antibody test for Bordetella pertussis, so all were treated with 5 days of azithromycin. Two of the infants were subsequently diagnosed with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis and underwent surgical pyloromyotomies 6 and 7 weeks, respectively, after the initial admission.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Bordetella pertussis; Cough; Cyanosis; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic; Rhinitis; Triplets; Vomiting; Whooping Cough