Table 3. Comparison of therapeutic efficacy between PMC group and the secondary treatment groups using PS matched analysis.

Variables		PMC (n = 52)	CST (n = 26)	P value	PMC (n = 12)	DXC (n = 12)	P value	PMC (n = 8)	LFX (n = 4)	P value
Median age, yr (range)		5.4 (0.6–15.3)	4.9 (1.2–14.8)	0.663	10.0 (8.1–14.1)	10.1 (8.1–14.1)	0.977	6.6 (4.8–14.1)	6.8 (4.8–13.6)	0.796
Male		31 (59.6)	16 (61.5)	1.000	5 (41.7)	3 (25.0)	0.667	3 (37.5)	2 (50.0)	1.000
Chest radiograph findings
	Consolidation	22 (42.3)	10 (38.5)	0.810	9 (75.0)	8 (66.7)	1.000	3 (37.5)	3 (75.0)	0.545
	Parapneumonic effusion	16 (30.8)	7 (26.9)	0.797	2 (16.7)	4 (33.3)	0.640	1 (12.5)	0 (0.0)	1.000
Mixed infection with other respiratory pathogensa		16 (30.8)	7 (26.9)	0.797	12 (100.0)	12 (100.0)	-	3 (37.5)	0 (0.0)	0.491
Febrile days before macrolide treatment
	Mean ± SD	3.8 ± 1.9	4.0 ± 1.9		3.8 ± 1.6	3.0 ± 2.4		4.9 ± 1.2	3.8 ± 1.3
	Median (range)	4.0 (0.0–10.0)	4.0 (0.0–7.0)	0.435	4.0 (1.0–7.0)	3.0 (0.0–7.0)	0.226	5.0 (3.0–7.0)	4.0 (2.0–5.0)	0.187
Median length of hospital stay, day (range)		10.0 (6.0–18.0)	9.0 (6.0–15.0)	0.740	9.0 (6.0–16.0)	9.0 (7.0–16.0)	0.838	9.0 (8.0–12.0)	9.5 (8.0–12.0)	0.657
TTD after initial macrolide treatment, day
	Mean ± SD	5.6 ± 2.2	4.7 ± 1.5		5.3 ± 2.3	5.9 ± 2.2		4.5 ± 1.2	5.1 ± 1.3
	Median (range)	5.1 (3.0–12.2)	4.2 (3.0–9.0)	0.085	4.9 (3.2–11.3)	5.7 (3.4–9.9)	0.453	4.4 (3.1–6.3)	5.0 (4.0–6.5)	0.283

Values are number (%) unless otherwise stated.

PMC = prolonged macrolide, PS = propensity score, CST = corticosteroid, DXC = doxycycline, LFX = levofloxacin, SD = standard deviation, TTD = time to defervescence.

^aParainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human bocavirus, corona virus, human metapneumovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.