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Antibiotics being prescribed to more children for sinus infections
By Staff Writer
Antibiotics and other prescription medications are commonly used to treat infections as a result of the common cold. However, new research shows that many children are now being over-prescribed medicine by their doctors as more promising drugs hit the market. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that amoxicillin has been effective in treating sinus inflammation, according to MSNBC. However, many physicians have been issuing similar powerful antibiotics for conditions that can be managed in lower doses. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for acute sinusitis, which accounts for approximately 3 million doctor appointments a year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named amoxicillin as a primary form of treatment for the condition in children in 2001. However, prescribing a high dose can be counterproductive in patients. Not only do antibiotics have side effects, such as nausea and fatigue, but they can cause costly bacteria resistance. Antibiotics do not have the potential to cause addiction in families. However, parents who fear that their child may have overdosed on a prescription medication are encouraged to seek help from medical professionals immediately, according to the CDC.
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