Review of ciprofloxacin use in children.

Background: The frequency of prescriptions for ciprofloxacin use in children is high despite the caution recommended.

Objective: To assess frequency of ciprofloxacin prescriptions in a pediatric unit and review the literature on use of ciprofloxacin in children.

Methods: Patient case notes in a pediatric general ward of a tertiary hospital were reviewed. Electronic databases were searched for articles published in English between January2001 and December2011.

Results: Ciprofloxacin was prescribed for 20% of the children in our preliminary study. In all the studies reviewed ciprofloxacin was used as a second line treatment in life-threatening cases and only for organisms that were susceptible on culture. Adverse events such as arthralgia, gastro intestinal disturbances and CNS reactions were recorded; they were reversible and often did not warrant discontinuation of therapy.

Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin may be used in children as second line treatment, in life-threatening cases, for susceptible organisms when the benefit outweighs the risk.