Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the efficacy of topical azithromycin in childhood ocular rosacea.
Methods: :
We retrospectively studied the files of 15 children suffering from ocular rosacea who were treated with azithromycin 1.5% eye drops (Azyter®, Thea laboratories, France).
Results: :
Nineteen eyes of 8 boys and 7 girls, aged 8±4 years were treated. The disease was resistant to lid hygiene, oral erythromycin and topical steroids in 15, 2 and 3 cases, respectively. All patients suffered from phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis with blepharitis. They received Azyter® bid for 3 consecutive days every 10 days, associated with lid hygiene. Ocular redness resolved within 2 months whereas phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis healed within 4 to 6 months in all cases. Palpebral inflammation partially decreased in 13 patients. Treatment was stopped after 6 months without recurrence (follow-up, 3 to 9 months without treatment).
Conclusions: :
Azithromycin 1.5% eye drops are a potent treatment for phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis complicating childhood ocular rosacea.
Keywords: conjunctivitis • inflammation • antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics