Role of broad spectrum antibiotics in chest infections in infants.
50 patients with chest infections admitted in the Kanti Childrens Hospital were studied to assess the effectiveness of the broad spectrum antibiotics in altering the course of the disease. These infants were graded to assess the daily improvement in their conditions and were followed up to 7 days. Altogether 12 patients were grouped in grade 2 and 38 were grouped in grade 1. There were no change in the condition of these patients up to the fifth day of admision inspite of the costly drugs used.These findings confirm that routine use of antibiotics in chest infections in infants without secondary complications does not alter the prognosis. Moreover it increases the economic burden to family whose daily income can hardly afford nutretious diet.