American Children Are Getting Too Many Antibiotics!

American Children Are Getting Too Many Antibiotics!

As many as 1 in 4 children in the United States could be taking too many antibiotics. In a recent study highlighted by HealthDay News and published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers found that doctors in children’s hospitals nationwide are giving antibiotics to pediatric patients inappropriately, and most often when unneeded. Patients who are overexposed to antibiotics are more likely to develop antibiotic resistance- a condition putting them at an elevated risk for fatal infections.  

It’s important to note that we are not providing health advice. As Long Island safety and health advocates, our team at Siler & Ingber believes in the power of information to make educated decisions about your child’s health.  

These are the facts parents should be aware of when it comes to antibiotics.  

The Misuse of Pediatric Antibiotics  

Antibiotics are life-saving medications that have been used to prevent the spread of bacterial infections for almost a century. But too much of anything can be unhealthy; antibiotics are no exception.  

The researchers in the Clinical Infectious Diseases study  were curious to know how often antibiotics were really necessary to treat hospitalized pediatric patients. Researchers evaluated over 12,000 children at 32 children’s hospitals who were taking one or more antibiotics for the following factors: if the cases required antibiotics, if a different antibiotic should have been used, and if the duration of the antibiotic use was appropriate. 

At least 1 in 3 pediatric patients evaluated received one or more antibiotics while in care. Among this group, 25 percent received at least one antibiotic categorized as ‘inappropriate’. These cases included:  

  • Receiving the wrong antibiotic (27%); 
  • Receiving antibiotics for too long (17%);  
  • Taking unnecessary antibiotics (11%); and  
  • Receiving antibiotics in place of other drugs that could have reduced infections (11%).  

The antibiotic study also found that children who were diagnosed with pneumonia were the most likely to receive unnecessary antibiotics in the hospital.  

Common Questions About Antibiotics  

Antibiotics are not a cure-all drug. But if you’re a parent who’s confused about how and when antibiotics are supposed to be used, you’re not alone.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics (A.A.P.) compiled the following list of answers to the most common questions parents have surrounding the topic of antibiotics:  

  • How do children become antibiotic-resistant? The repeated use of antibiotics can lead your child to develop bacteria in their body that can no longer be killed by antibiotics. Your child can also develop resistance if they are taking the wrong antibiotic to prevent infection, including broad-based drugs that cover a number of possible conditions. These types of bacteria are extremely harmful, as they can spread to other children and adults, resulting in the same harmful resistance to antibiotics.  
  • Will antibiotics help a cold? Unfortunately, no. Colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics are used to kill infections caused by bacteria.  
  • Can antibiotics be used to prevent the possibility of a bacterial infection caused by a virus? The A.A.P. reports that bacterial infections do not commonly follow viruses. Using antibiotics as a prevention method for these rare occurrences may do more harm than good.  
  • Can antibiotics treat ear infections? Antibiotics may or may not be effective depending on the cause of the infection. The A.A.P reports most ear infections are the result of a virus, but it is up to your child’s doctor to look for signs and symptoms.  
  • Do antibiotics treat sore throats? More than 80 percent of sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are used to treat group A streptococci infections, also known as ‘strep throat’.  
  • What are the side effects of antibiotics? Antibiotics are strong medications, and 1 in every 10 children can experience side effects, including: rashes, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.  
  • How long does it take for antibiotics to work? It can take anywhere between 48 to 72 hours for an antibiotic to take effect.  
  • What is the difference between antiviral and antibiotic? Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria that can lead to infections, while antivirals are prescribed to high-risk children to prevent serious side effects of viruses, including the flu.  

How To Advocate For Your Child 

The thought that a doctor would prescribe unnecessary medication to a child is discomforting. But it happens more often than we’d like to believe.  

Parents are the strongest (and sometimes only) advocate for their child’s health. When your child is prescribed antibiotics, don’t be afraid to ask questions to find out if this is really the best and safest course of treatment.  

To start, these are some questions you should be asking your child’s health care provider before administering antibiotics to your children:  

  • Does my child need antibiotics?  
  • Are there any safer options? 
  • What are the risks? 
  • How do I safely administer them? 
  • Are these drugs specific enough to their condition?  

Keep your children safe from adverse reactions to antibiotics by staying informed. For more information, visit HealthChildren.org 

New York City and Long Island Medical Malpractice Attorneys  

Our medical malpractice attorneys at the law firm of Siler & Ingber, have over 20 years of experience serving clients across New York City and Long Island. We protect your rights by maximizing recovery and securing the financial support our clients need to succeed on their road to recovery. Our winning attorneys know how to navigate through the claim process using our past experience as insurance defense attorneys. We are not afraid to fight and are fully prepared to take your case to trial to get a justified verdict over settling for less.  

If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice, our team at Siler & Ingber is here to help. With a 98% success rate, we have the experience and the know-how to help our clients achieve a favorable outcome. Contact us today at 1-877-LAW-4343, or schedule an appointment online anytime. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. 

Share this post

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

PROMOTION PERIOD: The Siler & Ingber Mineola MegaStar Contest begins on March 20, 2023 at 12:00 am ET and
ends on May 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, a MegaStar must be a legal U.S. resident at least 16 years of age as of date of
Nomination. A Mineola MegaStar is defined as a person who lives or works in Mineola and is admired or idealized for their courage, dedication, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. By participating, Entrants agree to be
bound by the official rules. Sponsors reserve the right to verify and determine eligibility in their sole discretion.

TO PARTICIPATE: During the Promotion Period, Siler & Ingber will accept from the members of the public (herein, the “Nominators”) nominations of Eligible Entrants (Mineola Megastars) who live or works in Mineola. Nominations may be entered by visiting www.nylawnet.com/mineolamegastar and completing the online form and essay submission or by emailing photo and essay to marketing@nylawnet.com during the Promotion Period to receive one (1) entry. Essay must not exceed 500 words. Acceptable essay formats are word documents or pdf ONLY. Nominations submitted without all required information or after the Promotion Period will be disregarded.
Online submissions must be received by May 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET to be eligible. All entries become the exclusive property of Siler & Ingber and will not be acknowledged or returned.

ESSAY: During the promotion period, an Entrant can nominate a Mineola MegaStar for the contest by submitting a
photo and essay. The essay must describe why the individual should be chosen as the award winner, including how the individual demonstrates some or all of the following qualifications:

1) an inspiring example to others by helping make Mineola a better place to live (through volunteerism, extra-curricular actives, special projects, giving back, etc.)

2) going above and beyond to aid a friend, family member, stranger or community in a time of need; and/or

3) love of profession and desire, determination and diligence to help outside of normal job responsibilities. The essay must be in English and no more than 500 words. All information provided must be truthful, accurate and complete. An Entrant cannot nominate more than one Hero.

Submitted Materials: Each essay must satisfy all the following submission requirements the Submission


Requirements:

· The essay must be the original creation of Entrant.

· The essay must not portray any recognizable individual without their prior consent, including consent from the
Hero.

· Entrant must either own all rights to the essay or otherwise have the right to submit the essay in the contest and to provide the rights to Sage Surfaces as set forth herein.

· The essay must not infringe any third party’s intellectual property rights.

· The essay may not contain illegal, indecent, obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit content, or otherwise offensive material or inappropriate content such as aberrational behavior, graphic violence, drug abuse, or nudity.

· The essay must not promote bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.

· The essay must be non-defamatory and must not invade any third party’s right of privacy or publicity.

· The essay must otherwise be appropriate for publication or broadcast or display on a general interest website.

By submitting an essay, each Entrant represents and warrants that the essay meets all of the submission
requirements and that the distribution, reproduction, display and any other uses of any part of the essay by Siler & Ingber as permitted herein will not infringe any third-party rights. Each Entrant further agrees to indemnify and hold Siler & Ingber harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, liabilities and causes of action of whatsoever nature that are based upon or arise out of any breach by such Entrant of such warranties or representations made by contestant or of these official rules.

By submitting an essay, Entrant grants to Siler & Ingber a non-exclusive, perpetual, world-wide, royalty-free license (and waives all moral rights in and to the essay) to display or otherwise use the essay in connection with this promotion and as set forth herein. If Siler & Ingber determines, in its sole discretion and at any time during the promotion period, that any nomination violates the submission requirements, is otherwise unsuitable, offensive, or in poor taste, or violates these official rules, Siler & Ingber reserves the right to remove and disqualify the essay. Siler & Ingber retains sole
discretion as to whether any nomination satisfies the submission requirements and the official rules.

WINNER SELECTION: For the entry period, a panel of judges will select potential Mineola Megastar finalists based on the compelling nature of the essay based on the criteria set forth herein. Top 5 entries will be announced on May 10, 2023. We will post the top 5 on social media. Final winner announced May 15, 2023. Award Ceremony for Mineola MegaStar will take place on May 19, 2023.


WINNER NOTIFICATION AND RELEASES: We will attempt to notify potential winners via telephone and/or email. If a potential winner: (a) does not respond within 48 hours of initial notification attempt; (b) is not in compliance with these official rules, (c) does not meet the eligibility requirements, (d) declines the prize, he or she will be disqualified, and an alternate winner will be selected by applying the criteria set forth above.
PRIZES: There is 1 Mineola MegaStar. Winner will receive a $500 Cash Prize.

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING: Submission of a nomination in the contest constitutes permission to Siler & Ingber to use Entrants name, identity, title, likeness, distinctive appearance, physical likeness, image, portrait, picture, photograph (whether still or moving), screen persona, voice, vocal style, statements, gesture, mannerism, personality, performance characteristic, biographical data, signature, social media handles and identities, and any other indicia or imitation of identity or likeness for purposes of advertising and trade, in any medium, without further notice, approval, or compensation, unless prohibited by law.

PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: No transfer, assignment, sale, duplication, cash redemption or substitution of Prize (or portion of Prize) is permitted, except by Sponsors, which reserve the right to substitute a Prize (or applicable portion of Prize) with one of comparable or greater value, as determined by Sponsors. Sponsors are not responsible for and will not replace a lost or stolen Prize or any component thereof. All Prize details are at Sponsors’ sole and absolute discretion. Non-compliance with these Official Rules may result in disqualification and, at Sponsors’ sole discretion, the awarding of Prize to an alternate winner.

VERIFICATION OF OFFICIAL WINNER: ALL PRIZE WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION BY SPONSORS, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST.

Do I Have A Case

    Skip to content