New data reveals that antibiotics are being administered to children more frequently than is required, which may contribute to the development of illnesses that are more resistant to treatment. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), at least 2.8 million cases of illnesses that are resistant to antibiotics occur annually in the United States. Tragically, this resulted in the deaths of approximately 35,000 people. How are we going to stop anything as horrible as this from happening?
Continue reading down below.
According to data from research that was published in the Journal of Pediatrics, approximately half of all medical appointments for respiratory infections ended in antibiotic prescriptions, ignoring the fact that physicians advised the parents that the medication would not be beneficial. In addition, the CDC says that the number of antibiotic prescriptions written for children has climbed by a whopping 50 percent over the previous decade. And this misuse is leading to the development of more drug-resistant microbes.
The biggest misuse of antibiotics in children is really for viral infections. It’s become really concerning recently because we don’t have a lot of new drugs that are being developed, stated Jared Olson, PharmD, Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases at Intermountain Health’s Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is important that we recognize the distinction between an infection caused by a virus and one caused by bacteria. For instance, strep throat represents a bacterial illness that may affect humans. Viruses are the cause of colds. In the event that your kid does require antibiotics, recent studies have shown that shorter treatment periods are just as beneficial as longer treatment durations. Additionally, parents may contribute by reducing their reliance on antibiotic treatment for their children’s illnesses.
Diarrhea and rashes that are not too severe are actually two of the most prevalent adverse reactions to antibiotics that medical professionals report seeing in patients. However, here’s the catch. It is important to remember that we are also capable of experiencing truly major adverse effects, such as allergic responses that necessitate hospitalization.
