Rational Use of Antibiotics in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Literature Review

Abstract

The pediatric population belongs to that category of individuals who are always at risk of developing certain illnesses if appropriate care is not taken. It is because of the delicate nature of the children’s health and body that makes them quite vulnerable to developing all sorts of illnesses and infections very easily. Moreover, their immune system is also in a developing stage, thus making it more prone to get compromised in case there is an infection severe enough to cause damage within the body. Respiratory illnesses are among the most common infections that pediatric populations are prone to develop during their life. However, with the appropriate management and interventions, these infections could be promptly treated. It all depends upon the physician and their diagnosis - how promptly it is made to save time. Respiratory illnesses can greatly compromise the living conditions of a child, provided that they cause several complications and also make a child cranky, agitated, and irritable. For this reason, mothers of children are often seen to report to the clinics so that appropriate treatment can be started in their infants that gives them relaxation from their symptoms. However, in this review, we shall explore the possibility of prescribing antibiotics in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study is to bring forward all the considerations that are strictly kept in mind before prescribing antibiotics to children since they could very much cause resistance in the individuals too. It is, therefore, very important to keep a check and balance on all the symptoms and the duration of those symptoms before any decision regarding the prescription of antibiotics is made by the physician. This will help prevent all sorts of super-infections, complications, as well as resistance-related incidences in the pediatric population.