A recent study found that half of the antibiotics given to children are broad-spectrum drugs. The study suggested that these broad-spectrum drugs may be seriously overused by children, and even used when antibiotics are not called for.

Overprescribing these kinds of drugs in children at such a high rate promotes resistance to such drugs and creates more instances of serious antibiotic side effects. It can also take an economic toll.

The study indicated that 30 percent of the broad-spectrum antibiotics were inappropriate for treatment or unclear whether or not they were inappropriate. About six million children each year were prescribed broad-spectrum drugs that may have been inappropriate for their treatment.

Azithromycin (Zithromax) and other macrolides made up 40 percent of the broad-spectrum antibiotics used, in the clear majority.

The researchers noted that macrolides like azithromycin might be attractive options because of their long half-life, allowing for children to take the drug for only a short period of time. However, bacterial pneumonia is actually resistant to macrolides, which does present a problem.

Antibiotics: Serious Side Effects

Antibiotic side effects of drugs like azithromycin are generally harmless, but since so many children are being overprescribed these drugs, it is important to know about the potentially serious antibiotics side effects.

Azithromycin was first approved by the FDA in 1991 to treat a variety of infections. Though it is used for both adults and children, it has not yet been approved to treat children under 6 months.

Common antibiotics side effects include mild skin rashes, which usually go away on their own without treatment. Children on antibiotics also commonly experience mild diarrhea and vomiting, which should also clear up on their own.

However, some children taking azithromycin experience a much more serious reaction. It is rarer, but some children experience eye problems. In some cases, children have reportedly experienced loss of eyesight or even blindness.

A 2006 study indicates that azithromycin users may be four times more likely to experience eye infection problems than others. For a few of these users, these problems led to blindness.

While these antibiotics side effects can be serious, many patients whose children are prescribed azithromycin do not know about this risk for their children.

Azithromycin Lawsuits

While azithromycin is a consistently popular antibiotic choice across the country, including in children, some of the users who have experienced its side effects, or whose children have, say that the drug may cause more harm than good.

Parents of children who have suffered from azithromycin side effects have begun filing lawsuits, alleging that they were not adequately warned about the potentially severe risks their children could suffer by taking the drug. Had they known of the risks, plaintiffs claim, they would have chosen a safer alternative for their children.

If your child has suffered from eyes injuries or even blindness after using azithromycin or a similar drug, you may be able to file an azithromycin lawsuit.