There is good news for children recovering from complex pneumonia. A new study suggests that children recover faster when they are prescribed oral antibiotics instead of intravenous ones when they are discharged. This conclusion was reached after a retrospective study of more than 2,000 children at 36 hospitals nationwide.
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Complex pneumonia develops from 15 percent of pediatric cases caused by a buildup of fluid around the lungs. It often requires children to take antibiotics for one to three weeks after hospital discharge to manage residual symptoms. For the last few years, parents were asked to introduce these antibiotics through an intravenous or PICC line. The new study says that this practice is no longer necessary; with children recovering at the same rate (and sometimes even faster) when merely taking oral antibiotics.
These results also have another implication. Many children are readmitted because parents – of no fault of their own – are often unequipped to handle PICC lines. The additional procedures can also lead to incorrect insertion and can place a child more at risk of infection. This often leads parents to hire a nurse or a medical aide to administer the antibiotic. With the knowledge that children can now orally take their medicine with no side effect can cut down medical expenses. Authors of the study emphasize this further saying that oral medication will contribute to better pediatric healthcare.
Image Source: livestrong.com
That said, the study is still the first of its kind to explore this topic on a national level. Further research is necessary.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon is an internal pulmonary specialist with a focus on conditions such as pneumonia. Learn more by subscribing to this blog.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon 