Clinical effectiveness of azithromycin sequential therapy combined with terbutaline in the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Objective To analyze the clinical effectiveness of azithromycin sequential therapy combined with terbutaline in the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods A total of 60 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia who were admitted to Anhui Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from September 2017 to July 2018 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups (n=30): an observation group and a control group. Patients in the observation group were given sequential treatment of azithromycin combined with terbutaline inhalation, while those in the control group underwent erythromycin intravenous infusion combined with terbutaline inhalation. Both groups were compared for clinical effectiveness, the time of clinical sign disappearance, the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) before and after treatment, and adverse reactions. Results After treatment, there were no statistical difference in the total effective rate and the time of clinical sign disappearance (P>0.05). After treatment, remarkable decreases in the levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 were found in the two groups, compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); the observation group presented lower levels of TNF-α and IL-6 than the control group, without statistical difference (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the observation group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Azithromycin sequential therapy combined with terbutaline atomization inhalation is effective to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children, which can improve their cytokine levels and rapidly alleviate clinical symptoms, with higher safety.