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The cause of runny noses in children isn't well understood. In some cases though, treating the child with antibiotics will help. Children and runny noses almost go together don't they? Well, for some kids the runny nose just won't go away and it can be pretty frustrating for parents and doctors - not to mention the child. For Aboriginal communities it's a real issue. In some cases it's an allergy of the same family as asthma. In very young children, a nasty smelling nasal discharge can be from something stuck in the nose. But mostly the cause is unknown, which in turn means there are arguments about the best treatment. Some people reckon saline drops work when the evidence is that they don't and there's a debate about antibiotics since sometimes it's possible to grow unpleasant bacteria from the snot. A review of the available evidence has found that in children who've had a nasal discharge for 10 days or more, antibiotics of the kind normally used by GPs, if given for at least 10 days, are significantly better than placebo, saline drops or decongestants. Nine children have to be treated though, for one to benefit.
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