The misuse of antibiotics for treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children.
Antibiotic therapy has been shown to be of no value in the treatment of the URI--either in shortening the course of the acute illness or in preventing the development of secondary bacterial infections. Patient expense, as well as the threat of adverse reactions, should prohibit the present practice by some of routinely prescribing tetracycline, erythromycin, and ampicillin. Indiscriminate antibiotic therapy cannot substitute for proper diagnostic evaluation of the patient who may have either a bacterial or, far more likely, a viral illness.
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D006139:Guaiacol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D013449:Sulfonamides; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D006139:Guaiacol; D000667:Ampicillin; D013752:Tetracycline; D010404:Penicillin V