| Methods |
Randomised, single‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study |
| Participants |
Inclusion criteria: symptom‐free family contacts of a B. pertussis culture‐positive child
Exclusion criteria: if none of the swabs taken from the children (including the index case) grew B. pertussis the contacts were not included
Any contact showing early signs of whooping cough was excluded
This study was in general practice and children were living in good social circumstances in South‐West Thames region in the UK
The children were visited frequently by a nurse who recorded progress and took swabs |
| Interventions |
Treatment group erythromycin (ethylsuccinate) 50 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. The dosage schedule was 125 mg before meals 4 times a day for contacts under 2 years. 250 mg before meals 4 times a day for those aged 2 to 8 years both for 14 days. Controlled group: identical placebo syrup |
| Outcomes |
Frequency of whooping cough in vaccinated and non‐vaccinated contacts. Microbiological eradication result is unclear |
| Notes |
This is a prophylactic erythromycin placebo‐controlled study in whooping cough contacts. Immunisation status: 60 (66%) children were vaccinated out of 91 children included in the trial. No vaccinated child had whooping cough |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Method of randomisation: not stated |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Unclear risk |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
Blinding of intervention: yes. Blinding of outcome measure: unclear |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
High risk |
Complete follow up: no |
