Prescribing antibiotics for children with cough in general practice does not reduce the risk of hospitalisation
Doctors and nurses often prescribe antibiotics for children with cough and respiratory infection to avoid return visits, symptoms getting worse or hospitalisation. In a study published in the British Journal of General Practice on 11 September, researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Southampton, Oxford and Kings College London found little evidence that antibiotics reduce the risk of children with cough ending up in hospital, suggesting that this is an area in which unnecessary antibiotic prescribing could be reduced.
The team, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, analysed data from a study of 8,320 children (aged three months to 15 years) who had presented to their GP with cough and other respiratory infection symptoms to see whether adverse outcomes occurred within 30 days of seeing their GP.
Sixty-five (0.8 per cent) children were hospitalised and 350 (four per cent) revisited their GP due to a worsening of symptoms.
Compared with no antibiotics, there was no clear evidence that antibiotics reduced hospitalisation for children, supporting similar research findings in adults. However, there was evidence that a strategy of delayed antibiotic prescribing (giving parents or carers a prescription and advising they wait to see if symptoms worsened before using it) reduced the number of return visits to the GP.
https://www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/latest-news/2018/09/11/prescribing-antibiotics-for-children-with-cough-in-general-practice-does-not-reduce-the-risk-of-hospitalisation/1129
Bristol Health Partners, 9th floor Whitefriars Lewins Mead Bristol, BS1 2NT
0117 903 7546
FC44+X8 Bristol
Cold and flu experts share how to beat cold and flu symptoms in just 24 hours
The winter period marks the beginning of people falling ill, getting bunged up and generally feeling under the weather.
The warning signs of a cold can be very recognisable and experts have given tips on how to beat the symptoms during the morning, afternoon and evening, reports The Sun.
Morning
Professor Ron Eccles is a cold-and-flu expert and emeritus professor at Cardiff University. He advises to start the day with a hot shower which can 'loosen secretions' in our noses as the steams helps clear blocked sinuses.
Warm water helps bring relief to aching limbs we often experience when we fall ill.
The next piece of advice is to dose up on vitamin C. Oranges and kiwis for breakfast are good sources of the vitamin, or simply throwing fresh berries into your morning porridge.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/cold-flu-experts-share-how-3550326
The Bristol Post, Temple Way, Bristol, BS2 0BY
0117 934 3331
FC38+VQ Bristol
Doctors and nurses often prescribe antibiotics for children with cough and respiratory infection to avoid return visits, symptoms getting worse or hospitalisation. In a study published in the British Journal of General Practice on 11 September, researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Southampton, Oxford and Kings College London found little evidence that antibiotics reduce the risk of children with cough ending up in hospital, suggesting that this is an area in which unnecessary antibiotic prescribing could be reduced.
The team, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, analysed data from a study of 8,320 children (aged three months to 15 years) who had presented to their GP with cough and other respiratory infection symptoms to see whether adverse outcomes occurred within 30 days of seeing their GP.
Sixty-five (0.8 per cent) children were hospitalised and 350 (four per cent) revisited their GP due to a worsening of symptoms.
Compared with no antibiotics, there was no clear evidence that antibiotics reduced hospitalisation for children, supporting similar research findings in adults. However, there was evidence that a strategy of delayed antibiotic prescribing (giving parents or carers a prescription and advising they wait to see if symptoms worsened before using it) reduced the number of return visits to the GP.
https://www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/latest-news/2018/09/11/prescribing-antibiotics-for-children-with-cough-in-general-practice-does-not-reduce-the-risk-of-hospitalisation/1129
Bristol Health Partners, 9th floor Whitefriars Lewins Mead Bristol, BS1 2NT
0117 903 7546
FC44+X8 Bristol
Cold and flu experts share how to beat cold and flu symptoms in just 24 hours
The winter period marks the beginning of people falling ill, getting bunged up and generally feeling under the weather.
The warning signs of a cold can be very recognisable and experts have given tips on how to beat the symptoms during the morning, afternoon and evening, reports The Sun.
Morning
Professor Ron Eccles is a cold-and-flu expert and emeritus professor at Cardiff University. He advises to start the day with a hot shower which can 'loosen secretions' in our noses as the steams helps clear blocked sinuses.
Warm water helps bring relief to aching limbs we often experience when we fall ill.
The next piece of advice is to dose up on vitamin C. Oranges and kiwis for breakfast are good sources of the vitamin, or simply throwing fresh berries into your morning porridge.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/cold-flu-experts-share-how-3550326
The Bristol Post, Temple Way, Bristol, BS2 0BY
0117 934 3331
FC38+VQ Bristol