To the Editor: With the growing popularity of internet communication applications among adolescents, it has become an important social context for their development. They can utilize the internet either positive way or negative way. The dramatic increase in the use of the internet in recent years has led to pathological use such as internet addiction [1]. The present study, aimed to assess the risk taking behaviors of the adolescents in the internet use. Seventy five samples were drawn from three English medium schools of West Bangalore by using simple random sampling technique and the data was collected using semi structured interview schedule. Results show that 74.7 % of the respondents were male with the mean age of 15.05 (±1.25) y. The mean age at the time of initiation to use the computers was 10.22 (±2.49) y. Total mean time spent was 7.23 (±7.02) h with maximum number of hours spent was 34 h a week for various purposes that explains the level of dependency on internet use as discussed by various studies [2,3]. Majority (34.7 %) of the respondents had ranked 'playing online games' as their first choice, 29.3 % use internet for academic purpose as their second choice and 29.3 % of respondents ranked the choice of sending emails as third. About 62.7 % play online games, 10.7 % claimed that someone revealed their personal details, 5.3 % reported that they were requested to engage in sexual activities/talk by an adult, 16 % got to know a teenager online and made contact with him/her by mail/telephone/in person. Majority (90.7 %) of them had come across nudity and sexual images, 45.3 % have placed their personal details in websites such as Orkut, Facebook, Myspace, and 6.7 % reported that they sought professional help for their pattern of use. This very well explains the risk factor involved for the adolescents while browsing the internet in the absence of proper guidance [4,5]. Though, majority (40 %) of the respondents access the computer at home, 66.7 % had no proper guidance and monitoring in using the internet that would increase the risk taking behavior of the adolescents. The studies also report that alienation positively predicted pathological internet use (PIU) directly and also indirectly mediated by leisure services preference [1,2].The higher use of internet for any purpose as shown in the results also would increase the risk of being alone and decrease the interaction and interpersonal relationship as rightly pointed out by other studies [1,5]. Thus the internet should be used in the right way with proper guidance from the care takers and the relevant use of internet by children solely depends on such important factors.
Background
Canine allergic dermatitis is a common diagnosis in veterinary practices which can lead to secondary infections requiring treatment with antimicrobials. A previous study suggested that dogs treated with oclacitinib in an Australian referral hospital required fewer courses of antimicrobial therapy compared to dogs receiving other anti-pruritic treatments. This study aimed to quantify the effect of oclacitinib treatment on the use of antimicrobials and other therapies in general practice veterinary clinics across Australia. A retrospective case-controlled review of patient records was designed to investigate the number of courses of antimicrobials and other therapies in dogs that received oclacitinib (Apoquel®), compared with those who received an anti-pruritic treatment that was not oclacitinib.
Results
The target population included canine patients with a presumptive diagnosis of allergic dermatitis presenting between 2008 and 2018 to general practices contributing to the VetCompass Australia database. Patient records of interest were identified using search terms relating to allergic dermatitis, resulting in over 700,000 observations. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to determine whether cases were prescribed fewer antimicrobial courses than controls, after adjusting for the presence of concurrent skin infections or infectious agents in ears. Our results indicate that fewer antimicrobial courses were prescribed in the cases compared to the controls. After adjusting for the concurrent skin infections, there was a significant reduction in the use of cefovecin [OR:0.62(0.39–0.98), P = 0.043], chlorhexidine [OR:0.57(0.42–0.77), P < 0.001], neomycin [OR:0.4(0.28–0.56), P < 0.001] and amoxycillin clavulanic acid (AMC) [OR: 0.55(0.39–0.78), P = 0.001] in cases compared to controls.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates a potential sparing effect of oclacitinib on the prescription of antimicrobials for the treatment of allergic skin diseases in dogs. This information may assist in the planning of treatment for canine allergic dermatitis, with consideration for antimicrobial stewardship.
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