Levofloxacin side effects
Levofloxacin is a pharmaceutical drug sold under the trade name Levaquin,
Levofloxacin for
otitis media
The broad-spectrum antibiotic levofloxacin
is effective against the bacteria that typically cause ear infections in
children, according to researchers. In the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Dr.
Adriano Arguedas of Instituto de Atencion Pediatrica, San Jose, Costa Rica and
colleagues, note that levofloxacin has a goodrecord for treating
bacterial infections in the throat and lungs. To determine its effectiveness and safety for ear
infections, the researchers studied 205 children who had, or were at high risk
for, persistent or repeat ear infections. They ranged in age from 6 months to 4
years. Fluid samples from the middle ear were taken before and
after treatment with levofloxacin, which was given for 10 days. Bacteria identified in the fluid before treatment
included Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus
influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. All of these organisms were susceptible to
levofloxacin. Bacteria were eradicated from the middle ear fluid of
88 percent of children during treatment, including 31 of 37 of those infected
with S. pneumoniae and all 54 who had H. influenzae infection. The overall
treatment success rate was 94 percent. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal,
December 2006.
Levofloxacin side effect
Common levofloxacin side effects include nausea and vomiting.