Efficacy of Azithromycin plus Glucocorticoid Adjuvant Therapy on Serum Inflammatory Factor Levels and Incidence of Adverse Reactions in Children with Mycoplasma Pneumonia

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the efficacy of azithromycin plus glucocorticoid adjuvant therapy on the levels of serum inflammatory factors and the incidence of adverse reactions in children with mycoplasma pneumonia. METHOD: A total of 90 eligible children with mycoplasma pneumonia in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were recruited. They were assigned to receive either azithromycin (control group) or azithromycin plus glucocorticoid (experimental group) according to the order of admission. Outcome measures included clinical efficacy, serum inflammatory factor indicators, lung function, clinical symptom mitigation, length of hospital stay, immune function, incidence of adverse reactions, and psychological status of the eligible children. RESULTS: Azithromycin plus glucocorticoid was associated with a significantly higher total clinical efficacy compared with azithromycin (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the serum inflammatory factor indices between the two groups (P > 0.05). The children given azithromycin plus glucocorticoid showed lower levels of serum inflammatory factors versus those given azithromycin alone (P < 0.001). Azithromycin plus glucocorticoid outperformed the monotherapy of azithromycin in terms of lung function (P < 0.001). Children after azithromycin plus glucocorticoid therapy had a faster clinical symptom disappearance and shorter length of hospital stay compared with after azithromycin alone (P < 0.001). Azithromycin plus glucocorticoid resulted in higher levels of immune function indices compared with azithromycin alone (P < 0.001). Azithromycin plus glucocorticoid was associated with a lower incidence of adverse reactions compared with azithromycin (P < 0.05). Lower Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) scores were witnessed in children given azithromycin plus glucocorticoid compared with monotherapy of azithromycin (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Azithromycin plus glucocorticoid in children with mycoplasma pneumonia can effectively improve the clinical indicators of the children with promising efficacy and high safety, which is worthy of promotion and application.