Sinusitis among adults is on the rise, as are ear infections in children. The report cites nearly 6 million antibiotic prescriptions for sinusitis in 1985, and nearly 13 million in 1992. Similarly, for middle ear infections, the numbers are 15 million prescriptions in 1985, and 23.6 million in 1992. Causes for the increase in reported infections are diverse. Some studies correlate the doubling in doctor's office visits for ear infections for preschoolers between 1975 and 1990 to increased use of day-care facilities.
Homelessness contributes to the spread of infection.
Ironically, advances in modern medicine have made more people predisposed to infection. People on chemotherapy and transplant recipients taking drugs to suppress their immune function are at greater risk of infection. Though some people clearly need to be treated with antibiotics, many experts are concerned about the inappropriate use of these powerful drugs. Many consumers have an expectation that when they're ill, antibiotics are the answer. They put pressure on the physician to prescribe them.