The introduction of antibiotics in the early part of this century was justifiably greeted as one of the major breakthroughs in modern medicine. No longer did major bacterial infections such as pneumonia mean certain death. But too much of a good thing, as you might expect, has consequences as well. In 1992, that number jumped to nearly 7 million, an increase of 687 percent. The use of amoxicillin went up nearly 200 percent during that same time period.
Several factors come into play.
Recent improvements in recordkeeping of actual prescriptions being written. Incidence of real ear infections has gone up, as more children spend time in day care. Improved access to medical care, allowing more children to be treated for diseases. But without a doubt, physicians are overprescribing antibiotics. Antibiotics do not kill viruses and should not be used.