Attention to Antibiotics in Respiratory Tract Infection in Children

Associate Professor from Memorial Ankara Hospital, Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Nisa Eda Çullas İlarslan gave information about the use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections in children.

Treatments of the upper and lower respiratory tracts in children differ according to the disease. In order to apply the appropriate treatment for the infection, the diagnosis must be made in the most accurate way. It is also important to know that antibiotic treatment will not be applied in every respiratory tract infection. While unnecessary antibiotic treatment causes various side effects, it can also lead to the development of resistance to antibiotics, which is an important threat to the whole world. For this reason, the principles of “rational drug use” should be followed in the use of antibiotics, as in all drug treatments in children with upper respiratory tract infections. In other words, after the correct diagnosis, the correct antibiotic should be given in the appropriate way, in the effective dose, in the appropriate dose range and for the duration.

Assoc. Dr. Nisa Eda Çullas İlarslan said that antibiotic treatment is not applied in viral diseases.

Diagnosis is of great importance in the treatment of respiratory tract infections such as pharyngitis, flu, bronchiolitis, tonsillitis, otitis media and pneumonia in childhood. Making the correct diagnosis allows the treatment to be applied correctly. Antibiotic treatment is applied especially in cases of otitis media, acute bacterial sinusitis and tonsillitis/pharyngitis due to beta infection (group A beta hemolytic streptococcus). In addition, if there is pneumonia and it is thought to be a bacterial agent, antibiotic treatment is still recommended. Except for these cases, respiratory tract infections are caused by viral agents and antibiotic use has no place in viral diseases. For this reason, the use of antibiotics is not appropriate unless prescribed by the doctor.

Assoc. Dr. Nisa Eda Çullas İlarslan stated that unnecessary antibiotic use has negative consequences.

Unnecessary use of antibiotics; It causes harm to the patient due to drug side effects, increases the cost of treatment and develops resistance to antibiotics, which is an important threat to the whole world. Therefore, as in all drug treatments, it is important to follow the principles of "rational drug use" in the use of antibiotics. For rational use of antibiotics; After the correct diagnosis, the correct antibiotic is given in the appropriate way, in the effective dose, in the appropriate dose range and for the duration.

Assoc. Dr. İlarslan explained that there is no age limit in the use of antibiotics.

There is no age limit for antibiotics and they are used from the neonatal period. However, some antibiotics are not suitable for use under a certain age. Physician; In cases where it considers a bacterial agent, it plans the appropriate antibiotic treatment by considering factors such as age, type of infection, season and underlying disease. Detection of culture growth allows the treatment to be directed towards the agent.

İlarslan emphasized that antibiotic resistance can be reduced with correct use.

Resistance to a particular antibiotic means that the antibiotic in question cannot kill bacteria at the appropriate therapeutic dose and cause them to multiply. This situation causes the existing infection to be untreated. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health problem. In a recent OECD report, while the rate of systemic antibiotic prescription in our country is 31%, the same rate has been reported between 10-20% in many European countries. According to a recent international assessment, Turkey has been reported to be the OECD country with the highest antibiotic resistance in terms of nosocomial infections.

Compliance with various international and national regulations created to reduce antibiotic resistance is very important. In terms of patients, hand washing, not using antibiotics not prescribed by the doctor, not keeping antibiotics at home, using the prescribed antibiotic for the recommended time and dose range, and getting the necessary vaccinations against infectious diseases are measures to reduce antibiotic resistance.

Assoc. Dr. Nisa Eda Çullas İlarslan said that the following should be considered while using antibiotics:

• When using antibiotics, the doctor's prescription and recommendations should be followed.
• Some of your child's current diseases and medications may affect your doctor's choice of antibiotics and the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, inform your doctor about this.
• It should be checked that the antibiotic given from the pharmacy is in the form and content prescribed by the doctor. Also check the expiration date.
• The antibiotic should be used in the recommended amount, dose range and duration.
• The storage conditions of the antibiotic should be observed.
• Antibiotics should not be discontinued earlier than the recommended time, as the child's complaints decrease. This may result in infections not being fully treated.
• Care should be taken not to interrupt the treatment early, as well as not to miss the dose. This may lead to significant complications, especially regarding the heart and kidneys, in pictures such as tonsillopharyngitis due to beta infection.