Overuse of antibiotics leads to more resistant bacteria and to sicker kids. A survey of physicians published in the June 19, 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reports a significant drop in antibiotic prescribing rates for children. In 1989-1990, there were 838 antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 children each year. By 1999-2000, the number had dropped to 503. In 1989-1990, antibiotics were prescribed at 33 percent of all office visits (for any cause). By 1999-2000, this had dropped to 23 percent of office visits. This is welcome news indeed! Nevertheless, throughout the period of the study, bacterial resistance continued to increase – and it is no wonder. Millions of courses of unnecessary antibiotics are still being prescribed each year. This same survey showed that at the end of the study, 2 million prescriptions were still given each year to children under age 15 when the diagnosis was a viral upper respiratory infection. At the end of the study, a child who visited the doctor with a cold got antibiotics 22 percent of the time; with a sore throat (usually viral), 69 percent; and with bronchitis (usually viral) 77 percent of the time. The CDC says, “Bronchitis or a nonspecific cough illness in children rarely warrants antibiotics.” Clearly, we still have a long way to go. In the meantime, print this page and bring it with you to the doctor.

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