Childhood infections and antibiotic prescribing

Childhood infections are one of the most common reasons children seek medical care, and antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed medication to children (Chai et al., 2012). Pediatric and family medicine primary care providers must be familiar with and comfortable treating a wide range of infections in children. Additionally, antimicrobial resistance and risk of adverse reactions from antibiotics make decisions of when to treat infections of the utmost importance. The following chapter reviews select infections most common in pediatric patients and important considerations for antibiotic treatment.