News for 2009

Studies reveal parents demand antibiotics less often

child vaccThe American Medical Association published a study recently that reveals parents don’t demand unnecessary prescription antibiotics for their children as often as they used to. According to the study, doctors wrote 36 percent fewer prescriptions for antibiotics in the treatment of ear infections and other upper respiratory infections in 2006 than they did in 1995.

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The signs and symptoms of liver damage and failure in children

antibiotics for childrenAcute liver failure (ALF) in children is rare, but when it happens, there is a fair probability that it was brought on by the use of drugs such as acetaminophen and antibiotics. Liver failure occurs when too many of the liver’s cells become damaged or die in a brief period of time. Because the condition progresses rapidly, immediate medical attention is needed to offset the larger damage in the body that liver failure can cause.

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Double vision linked to several antibiotics

double visionMedical researchers know that antibiotics can cause a multitude of side effects in many of the patients who take the drugs, and an ongoing analysis of medical reports suggests the list of adverse effects is getting longer. A couple of ophthalmologists in Oregon have found that the use of certain antibiotics in the fluoroquinolones family may cause double vision in some patients.

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Are antibiotics safe for children?

baby antibioticsMost children will develop three respiratory infections every year. Viral infections, such as a cold or flu, will run their course and eventually heal on their own. However, bacterial infections, such as ear infections, strep throat, and pneumonia, must be treated with antibiotics to avoid the risk of them developing into more serious health problems.

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