Antibiotic choice for respiratory infection in pediatric

Abstract

Respiratory infection (RTI) is one of the leading factors of death in children in India. In most countries, RTI is a common cause of hospitalisation in children under five years old. There are different guidelines for management of various type of RTI. Most of these, emphasis on use of antibiotics in specific sub type of RTI. While literatures recommend avoiding antibiotic in viral infections, they mostly suggest beta lactams as first line drugs. Depends on patients, amoxicillin remains drug of choice for most of out-patients. In case of hypersensitivity to penicillin, cephalosporin commonly will be substituent. If specific and atypical organism found, need to switch to other type such as macrolides. In this research, we aimed to briefly review current guidelines and literatures regarding antibiotic selection in paediatrics suffering from different type of respiratory tract infection.