PARROT JNR
There are large numbers of children with neurological impairment caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy. Many are prone to chest infections which can lead to long stays in hospital, additional impairment and even premature death. Despite the suffering caused to children and their families by these severe infections and the high cost to health services, there is very little information on how best to prevent them. Some doctors prescribe long-term antibiotics but we don’t really know whether this treatment makes any difference to the numbers of chest infections children suffer from, or whether these antibiotics can cause long term harm.
Aim:
- To determine whether 6 months of azithromycin prophylaxis given to children with non-progressive neurological impairment and persistent respiratory symptoms is more effective than placebo in reducing the proportion hospitalised with lower respiratory tract infection.
- To determine whether this treatment affects:
- Number and severity of chest infections
- Number of GP visits and Emergency Department attendances with chest infections
- Number of courses of extra antibiotics prescribed
- Quality of life of child and parent; quality/amount of parent sleep; time off school
Funding / Grants
- NHMRC; NIH
Chief Investigators
- Dr Gabrielle MaCullum
- Associate Professor Brent Masters
- Professor Dinah Reddihough
- Dr Kim McLennan
- Professor Paul McNamara
- Dr Adrienne Harvey
- Professor Katrina Williams
