Authors : Anil Kumar, Anjali Singh, Aniruddha Sen
DOI : 10.1007/978-3-031-40858-8_584-2
Volume : 2025
Issue : 2025
Year : 2025
Page No : 1-9
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global health crisis that disproportionately affects pediatric populations, particularly children with disabilities. This entry explores the intricate relationship between AMR and childhood disability, emphasizing how repeated infections, extended hospitalizations, frequent exposure to antibiotics, and compromised immunity exacerbate the vulnerability of this group. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, birth defects, or physical impairments often encounter multidrug-resistant organisms, which lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and long-term functional impairments. AMR not only complicates treatment outcomes but also delays developmental milestones, impacts educational and social integration, and poses significant psychosocial and economic burdens on families and caregivers. This entry highlights key mechanisms through which AMR contributes to pediatric disability, including recurrent or untreated infections, nosocomial complications, delayed diagnosis, and iatrogenic harm from toxic second-line antibiotics. It also addresses the compounded risks in low-resource settings where poor hygiene, over-the-counter antibiotic use, and limited diagnostic tools amplify resistance trends. In response, this entry proposes a comprehensive, multisector mitigation strategy involving pediatric antibiotic stewardship, vaccination programs, public education, inclusive policy frameworks, and innovations in diagnostics and therapeutics. Anchored in the One Health paradigm, it advocates for AMR strategies that explicitly recognize and prioritize children with disabilities. Through a synthesis of epidemiological insights and policy imperatives, this entry aims to inform stakeholders and guide equitable interventions that reduce health disparities and improve the quality of life for affected children worldwide.