That perhaps the general population takes more antibiotics than would be strictly necessary, no one escapes, and that they are only useful against bacteria (They have nothing to do against viruses) is something we know, although we do as we do not (or something similar).
And not only the population, because sometimes it is doctors who prescribe them unnecessarily, although as we will see later, knowing the origin of an infection may not be so easy. The fact is that in the latest issue of Pediatrics, a meta-analysis of studies between 2000 and 2011 that relate the bacterial prevalence in respiratory tract infections with the administration of antibiotics is published. They are data from the United States.
The researches studied in the meta-analysis include pediatric population data (up to 18 years of age), and it is estimated that 27.4 percent of the patients they had infectious diseases whose probable cause was some bacteria. We always talk about respiratory tract conditions and ear infections; and it is pointed out the difficulty for pediatricians to distinguish whether the cause is a virus or a bacterium, since there are not too many practical tools, in addition to the rapid strep test in throat infections.
However, while doctors demand more diagnostic tools to use in consultation, it is necessary to share with families, and make them part of an idea that can be key: “infections are usually self-limited if the cause It is a virus, so in addition to treatment to alleviate symptoms, little else can be done to wait. ” That and make decisions based on evidence and clinical practice, which is what our professionals already do.
That is why I consider that responsibility is shared, because parents sometimes raise our expectations of healing in an exaggerated way, and that can not only translate into pressure towards healthcare professionals, but also towards the disease process. I say the latter because sometimes a respiratory infection is considered to be cured, and this can cause superinfections.
The point is that according to the Pediatrics article entitled "Bacterial Prevalence and Antimicrobial Prescribing Trends for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections", antibiotics are being prescribed in almost 57 percent of consultations for so-called ARIs (acute respiratory pediatric infections). You will have noticed the difference in the estimation of the bacterial origin and the dispensing of drugs that only act against bacteria.
You will surely remember that WHO has already warned us that there are already seven bacteria responsible for serious infections that are resistant to antibiotics, and one of the causes is an incorrect way to prescribe and administer such medications. And it is convenient that we all be aware.
In Peques and More | The Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics warns that our children are overmedicated, administering the medicine in teaspoons or tablespoons can lead to dose errors
