Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of oral azithromycin for thr treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial

Place and Duration: outpatient dermatology department nishtar hospital multan, 6 months

Methodology: Fifty six smear positive patients of cutaneous leishmaniasis of either gender were enrolled. Patients ages were 18 to 70 years. All the patients were categorized equally into two groups. Group I with 28 patients received oral azithromycin 500mg/day for 25 days and group II with 28 patients received placebo. Efficacy of oral azithromycin was considered as complete healing leaving behind post inflammatory pigmentation, scarring or normal skin. Patients were followed for 3 months. Data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0.

Results: There were 20 (71.43%) males and 8 (28.57%) were females in group I and in group II 21 (75%) and 7 (25%) patients were male and females. Mean age of patients in group I was 34.26±12.85 years and in group II it was 35.14±12.74 years. At final follow-up 19 (67.86%) patients who received oral azithromycin were cured while in placebo group 12 (42.86%) patients were cured, a significant difference was observed between both groups with p-value <0.05.

Conclusion: Oral azithromycin is safe and effective for thr treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with no side effects.

Keywords: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Azithromycin, Cured.