Ciprofloxacin Versus Azithromycin for Children Hospitalised With Dysentery

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female aged 6 months to 60 months at time of hospital presentation.
2. Have symptoms and/or signs of dysentery, specifically passing stools containing mucusand/or blood with/without abdominal pain, tenesmus or fever (≥37.8˚C).
3. Be eligible for treatment with oral medication in the opinion of the admittingphysician (i.e. no clinical requirement for parenteral treatment on admission).
4. Be within 72 hours of the onset of signs/symptoms.
5. Have a parent/guardian present at admission who can provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Those known to have specific medical (patients with known prolongation of the QTinterval, congenital long QT syndrome)/surgical conditions which may affect diseaseseverity/presentation or response to treatment (e.g. affecting antimicrobialabsorption), including:
2. gastrointestinal abnormalities, including short bowel syndrome, chronic (inflammatory or irritable) bowel disease.
3. inherited or acquired immune system deficiency rendering the patientimmunocompromised, including chronic/long-term steroid treatment or otherimmunosuppressive treatment
4. Presentation with severe infection requiring parenteral antimicrobial treatment,including shock jaundice, extensive gastrointestinal bleeding, convulsion , drowsinessor coma, reduced or less movement when stimulated, tachypnea > 60 times per minute,grunting, chest retraction, refuse to suck.
5. Known hypersensitivity to any of the trial drugs (CIP or AZI).
6. Coexisting infection requiring other or additional antimicrobials to be prescribed/administered.