Children are the main reservoir of common cold viruses. Teaching children about the different types of microbes and the increasing problems of antibiotic resistance with unnecessary use of antibiotics, should not only raise awareness in our future generation of antibiotic users but also in the family environment, as these children take the messages home to their parents. 15 Public campaigns thus far have targeted adults, who are the gatekeepers to antibiotic use, with little education of children, who are our future generation of antibiotic users and prescribers. In many European countries, antibiotic prescription rates are high in children and antibiotics are the most common medication prescribed.
9–11 Several countries have undertaken public antibiotic awareness campaigns 12 and the EU annual European Antibiotic Awareness Day 13 advises the general public that taking antibiotics for the wrong reasons, such as against colds or flu, is of no benefit but may actually cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotic treatments, kill their helpful bacteria and often results in side effects such as diarrhoea. Moreover, there is high usage of antibiotics without consulting a health professional in Eastern and Southern Europe. 8 European questionnaire surveys indicate that the public still do not understand that antibiotics are usually not needed for coughs and colds. 4, 5Īntibiotic resistance has been associated with inappropriate antibiotic use 6, 7 and is now emerging as a problem in the community and, through inappropriate antibiotic use, the public contribute to its emergence and spread. 1 To reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the hospital setting, several European Union (EU) countries have introduced hygiene 2, 3 and prudent antibiotic prescribing campaigns. Children, education, Europe, school IntroductionĪs highlighted by the European Health Council in 2008, ‘antimicrobial resistance is still a growing health problem which increases morbidity, mortality, and health costs’.
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