| Methods |
Participants were recruited from emergency department with a diagnosis of pneumonia for the periods 1 May 1994 to 30 April 1995 and 1 December 1995 to 30 June 1996 Inclusion and exclusion criteria were not stated Study participants were randomised to azithromycin or either amoxycillin‐clavulanate if under 5 years and erythromycin if over 5 years The method of randomisation was not described The study was not blinded There was no description of withdrawals or drop‐outs There was no assessment of compliance Clinical outcomes were evaluated on day 3, 10 and 30, and chest X‐ray was repeated on day 30. Outcome measures included clinical response, hospitalisation, radiological improvement and adverse events. Clinical response was classified as unchanged, improved, cured or worse. These categories were not defined. Radiological improvement at day 30 was not defined |
| Participants |
155 children aged 6 months to 16 years with pneumonia. Males = 84. Number of children with M. pneumoniae infection in each group not stated |
| Interventions |
Group A (n = 82): azithromycin 10 mg/kg/day OD for 3 days Group B (n = 73): amoxycillin‐clavulanate 40 mg/kg/day, TID for 10 days if under 5 years and erythromycin 40 mg/kg/day, TID for 10 days if over 5 years |
| Outcomes |
Clinical presentations Radiological findings Adverse events |
| Notes |
— |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Method of randomisation was not provided |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
No description of allocation |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
No blinding of outcome assessor |
| Follow‐up?
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
There was no description of withdrawals or drop‐outs |
| Reporting of participants by allocation group?
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
No mention of withdrawals or drop‐outs |
