From the Research
Clarithromycin is not recommended for the treatment or prevention of measles, as it is a viral infection and antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. Measles is a highly contagious, potentially fatal, but vaccine-preventable disease caused by the measles virus, as described in a 2022 study published in the Lancet 1. The standard approach for measles is supportive care to manage symptoms while the immune system fights the virus, including rest, adequate hydration, fever control with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and vitamin A supplementation in certain cases.
Some key points to consider in the management of measles include:
- The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is highly effective and recommended as part of routine childhood immunization to prevent measles, as noted in a 2016 review published in JAMA Pediatrics 2.
- If someone is exposed to measles and is unvaccinated, they may receive the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure or immune globulin within 6 days to prevent or reduce severity of infection.
- Antibiotics like clarithromycin would only be appropriate if a secondary bacterial infection develops as a complication of measles, such as pneumonia or ear infections, and would be prescribed specifically for that bacterial complication, not for the measles virus itself.
- A 2013 Cochrane review found that antibiotics may have a beneficial effect in preventing complications such as pneumonia, purulent otitis media, and tonsillitis in children with measles, but the quality of the evidence was generally poor 3.
- A more recent study is needed to provide definitive guidelines on the use of antibiotics in measles, but based on current evidence, clarithromycin is not recommended for routine use in measles treatment or prevention.