title: Review of ciprofloxacin use in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency of prescriptions for ciprofloxacin use in children is high despite the caution recommended.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess frequency of ciprofloxacin prescriptions in a pediatric unit and review the literature on use of ciprofloxacin in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient case notes in a pediatric general ward of a tertiary hospital were reviewed. Electronic databases were searched for articles published in English between January2001 and December2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ciprofloxacin was prescribed for 20% of the children in our preliminary study. In all the studies reviewed ciprofloxacin was used as a second line treatment in life-threatening cases and only for organisms that were susceptible on culture. Adverse events such as arthralgia, gastro intestinal disturbances and CNS reactions were recorded; they were reversible and often did not warrant discontinuation of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ciprofloxacin may be used in children as second line treatment, in life-threatening cases, for susceptible organisms when the benefit outweighs the risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. ngozikaokoye@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Okoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oyawole
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Uzochukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oyetunde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin