Antibiotic therapy in pediatric outpatient ENT infections

Abstract

Inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs are currently the most common pathology in children. Diseases of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses occupy the leading place in the structure of primary morbidity, averaging 55.5%. In the paediatric population, ENT pathology develops more often as a secondary bacterial complication of a previous viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Bacterial otorhinolaryngological complications often require the prescription of antibacterial drugs. In outpatient practice, the choice of rational and safe therapy is of utmost importance. The article presents clinical cases of ENT diseases in children and algorithms for the choice of initial antibacterial therapy. Recommended drugs for the treatment of ENT diseases and the main indications for their administration are presented. Most national and international guidelines recommend amoxicillin as a first-line drug for the treatment of major respiratory pathogens (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, S. pyogenes) and bacterial complications of ENT diseases in children, taking into account its low toxicity, cost and convenient form of administration. In case of ineffective therapy or in the presence of risk factors for drug resistance of pathogens, semi-synthetic penicillins in combination with β-lactamase inhibitors are recommended.