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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
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Neonatal Azithromycin Exposure and Childhood Growth: Long-Term Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Mamadou Bountogo1, Lucienne Ouermi1, Clarisse Dah1

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Sante de Nouna, Nouna, Burkina Faso.

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|July 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal azithromycin (a single dose) did not impact child growth up to age four. This study found no evidence of long-term growth benefits or harm from early antibiotic exposure in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Single-dose azithromycin is evaluated by the WHO for preventing child mortality.
  • Concerns exist regarding unintended, long-term effects of early antibiotic exposure in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the long-term effects of neonatal azithromycin exposure on child growth up to 4 years of age.
  • To evaluate anthropometric outcomes in children following a neonatal trial of azithromycin versus placebo.

Main Methods:

  • Long-term follow-up of a randomized sample of children from a neonatal mortality prevention trial.
  • Comparison of anthropometric outcomes between infants receiving neonatal azithromycin and those receiving a placebo.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed in any anthropometric outcome between the azithromycin and placebo groups at 4 years of age.
  • Neonatal single-dose azithromycin exposure did not lead to detectable differences in child growth.

Conclusions:

  • Early life, single-dose azithromycin exposure does not appear to have long-term detrimental or beneficial effects on child growth.
  • Findings do not support concerns about growth impairment or enhancement from neonatal azithromycin use.

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