Largest trial of antibiotic amoxicillin for treating chest infections in children finds little effect

The largest randomised placebo-controlled trial of the antibiotic amoxicillin for treating chest infections in children – one of the most common acute illnesses treated in primary care in developed countries, has found it is little more effective at relieving symptoms than the use of no medication. The study, published in The Lancet and funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), was led by researchers from the University of Southampton and supported by centres at the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Cardiff.