The compliance in patients using a 3- and 5-day course of azithromycin (58.0% and 42.9% respectively) (P<0.01) was better than a 10-day course of roxithromycin (7.5%) (P<0.05). The time to resolution of symptoms for a 3- and 5-day course of azithromycin (4.1 days and 5 days respectively) (P<0.01) was faster than a 10-day course of roxithromycin (7.5 days) (P<0.05). The confidence interval was 99% for a 3- and 5-day course of azithromycin and 95% for a 10-day roxithromycin course.
In terms of side effects, the incidence of diarrhoea in patients treated with a 3- and 5-day course of azithromycin (8.8% and 7.1% respectively) (P<0.01) was lower than a 10-day course of roxithromycin (15.8%) (P<0.05). The incidence of dyspepsia in patients prescribed with a 3- and 5-day course of azithromycin (14.3 and 16.7 respectively) (P<0.01) was greater than a 10-day course of roxithromycin (12.2%). The incidence of nausea in patients using 3- and 5-day treatment of azithromycin (15.4% and 19.1% respectively) was greater than a 10-day course of roxithromycin (15.6%) (P<0.05).