Study finds racial differences in antibiotic prescriptions to kids

A new study uncovers racial differences in how unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions are written for kids in emergency rooms. Researchers at Children's National Health System looked at data for nearly 40,000 ER visits. Most patients were about 3-years-old. White patients were twice as likely as black and latino children to receive antibiotics for a viral respiratory infection. Antibiotics are useless in treating viral illnesses. Overall the percentage of antibiotics dispensed in ERs was low.