A report from Public Health France indicated an increase in the number of antibiotic prescriptions for young children last year.
An increase
Young children consume more and moreantibiotics in France. A finding that was mentioned in a report by French public health.
For 10 years, the number of prescriptions had been falling to drop below the 1,000 per year mark for 1,000 children aged 0 to 4 years in 2020. Last year, however, this figure increased before exceeding a again the 1,200, according to theNational Public Health Agency.
A new slogan
This increase is due in particular to the lifting of barrier gestures and above all to the return of the massive spread of winter diseases. Because of this overconsumption, the Health Insurance and Public health France introduced new posters to be installed in medical offices. A new slogan “antibiotics, good treatment, it is first of all to use them well“, is inscribed alongside a photo of a girl claiming that “antibiotics don’t work for his angina“.
Antibiotics ineffective against viruses
The antibiotics attack pathogenic bacteria, but they are not effective against viruses. Yet many runny noses result from a viral infection. Pierre Tattevin, an infectiologist explained that it is natural selection. “If you take it too regularly, you end up with infections that are much more difficult to treat.“, he noted. Moreover, he warned that the too regular use of antibiotics can weaken the microbiota, the network of microscopic organisms that help keep the body functioning properly. Chronic diseases can subsequently occur.
Sources : The Parisian, BFMTV
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