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Despite the risks, antibiotics still overprescribed for kids

Posted at 1:37 PM, Sep 15, 2014
and last updated 2014-09-15 17:44:56-04

When you take your child to the doctor for the flu or a sore throat, chances are you'll walk away with a prescription for an antibiotic. A new study says that's a problem.

Researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital found just 27 percent of acute respiratory tract infections, 65 percent of ear infections and 20 percent of strep throat cases in children are caused by bacteria.

The underlying assumption being the rest of those infections are viral and can't be treated with antibiotics. This adds up to about 11 million unnecessary prescriptions per year.

Find out more with this Newsy video.