Children with acute, uncomplicated respiratory infections have similar symptom duration and severity with antibiotics given immediately, delayed or not at all, a randomised trial shows.

Spanish researchers assigned children with acute uncomplicated respiratory infections at 39 GP clinics to receive an immediate antibiotic prescription (148 children), delayed antibiotics (146), or no antibiotic prescription (142).

They found the children’s symptom duration and severity was similar in all groups, but gastrointestinal side effects were lower in those not given a prescription, says the study in Pediatrics.

Brisbane GP Dr Geoffrey Spurling, a lecturer at the University of Queensland, commented on the findings, saying the results suggest that delaying antibiotics is a safe step for doctors to take.