Abstract
Millions of courses of antibiotics are prescribed for children with acute cough illness each year, despite evidence from randomized, placebo- controlled trials that such treatment is not effective. Evidence that children with cough for ≤10 days should not be treated with antimicrobial agents is presented. Older children with prolonged cough or those with underlying lung disease may benefit from antimicrobial treatment directed specifically at B pertussis, M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae, P aeruginosa, or other specific infections. None of the routinely prescribed cephalosporin or amino penicillin antimicrobials would be effective for these organisms. Noninfectious diagnosis should be sought in children with markedly prolonged cough.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 178-181 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Pediatrics |
Volume | 101 |
Issue number | 1 II SUPPL. |
State | Published - Jan 1 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Antimicrobial therapy
- Bronchitis
- Cough
- Diagnosis
- Pediatrics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health