The mortality from infectious diseases in the U.S.A. declined from 797 deaths per 100,000 in 1900 to 36 deaths per 100,000 in 1980. Bacterial pharyngitis is readily differentiated from viral pharyngitis on clinical grounds. Fear of legal liability is the most common reason for inappropriate use of oral antibiotics by pediatricians. RSV is the principal virus shown to invade the middle ear in acute otitis media. Zidovudine is terratogenic.
Enteroviruses are the most common cause of exudative viral pharyngitis.
Approximately 30,000,000 prescriptions for antibiotic treatment of acute otitis will be written in 1999. Parents frequently request an antibiotic when physicians do not feel it is indicated.