Researchers looked at a nationally representative ...

(Reuters) - Pediatricians in the U.S. to write more than 10 million unnecessary antibiotics each year on conditions such as flu and asthma, contribute to a potentially dangerous drug resistance, according to a study. Researchers looked at a national representative sample of nearly 65,000 outpatient visits to children under 18 in 2006 to 2008, the results presented in the journal Pediatrics. In general, physicians prescribed antibiotics in one out of every five visits, while most do for children with respiratory illnesses such as sinus infections and pneumonia. Some of these infections caused by bacteria that require antibiotics. But almost a quarter of all antibiotics were given to children with respiratory diseases, probably or definitely does not require antibiotics, such as bronchitis, influenza, asthma and allergy. This means more than 10 million antibiotics each year, most likely will not bring any benefit, but may hurt, says study leader Adam Gersh at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. "One reason is excessive because the diagnosis is often not clear -. This is common with ear infections decision to appoint an antibiotic, although the diagnosis is uncertain, just to be on the safe side, "he said. Half of all antibiotics were intended "broad spectrum" drugs that act against a wide range of bacteria - kill some beneficial bacteria in the body, as well as possibly setting a child for more serious infections of antibiotic-resistant bacteria later. "Antibiotics are wonderful. There are times when you really need, the only question to be smart about when we use them, "said Betsy Foxman, Epidemiologist University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, who was not involved in the study. In addition, giving antibiotics to children when they are not needed increases the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections and the children themselves and society as a whole, she said. "We believe that antibiotics are useful as well, but they are not very specific, they affect everything in your body. Making our germs to be us away, we can cause other health problems, we do not know about. "

And to avoid over-prescription? Hersh said that one way might just wait a few days and check the child. "If the diagnosis is still a little unclear strattera prescription, ask if it is safe to wait a day or two with friends to watch, not to start antibiotic immediately," he added. Source:

(Reports from New York Genevra Pytman to Reuters Health, editing