We’ve long been warned about the dangers of antibiotic overuse. Now, it seems the penny has finally dropped. A report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests that antibiotic use in children is falling, although they still remain a popular treatment.
A team from the FDA studied a national database of U.S. drug prescriptions for children under 17 between 2002 and 2010 and found that in this period they fell by around 9 percent. Prescriptions for antibiotics dropped further still, by 14 percent, although they still made up a quarter of the total. Overuse of antibiotics is a concern because it can lead to bacterial resistance.
Meanwhile, prescriptions for drugs to treat allergies, pain and colds also decreased, while those for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) soared by 46 percent (Pediatrics).
– Jessica Hamzelou
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