Adverse drug events linked to antibiotics caused about 70,000 emergency room visits involving children annually between 2011-15, according to a study published Aug. 23 in Journal of The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
Here are four things to know:
1. The study analyzed nationwide estimates for outpatient antibiotic prescriptions, along with data from a nationally representative sample of ER visits. Researchers investigated adverse antibiotic reactions in children 19 and younger.
2. Researchers found 69,464 ER visits occurred annually due to adverse drug effects in children. This accounts for 46.2 percent of all ER visits for adverse drug events from systematic medication.
3. The risk of an ER visit varied based on the child's age and the type of antibiotic prescribed. Children ages 2 or younger carried the highest risk of a side effect, accounting for 41 percent of the visits.
4. Amoxicillin created the most adverse drug events in children 9 or younger, and sulfamethoxazole caused the most issues in kids ages 10 to 19.
"For parents and other caregivers of children, these findings are a reminder that while antibiotics save lives when used appropriately, antibiotics also can harm children and should only be used when needed," lead author Maribeth Lovegrove, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion of the CDC said in a press release. "For healthcare providers, these findings are a reminder that adverse effects from antibiotics are common and can be clinically significant and consequential for pediatric patients."