Preventing the unnecessary use of antibiotics

Knowing if a child has a bacterial or viral infection is a very important decision. Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria. These medications save life and prevent complications. However they have no impact on viral infections.

Some disease in children that are caused by viruses include the following :

• all colds
• all cases of croup
• most fevers
• most coughs
• most sore throats
• most cases of diarrhea and vomiting

Disease in children caused by bacteria include the following :

• most ear infections
• most sinus infections
• some pneumonias
• 10% of sore throat ( strep throat)
• skin infections

Do i need antibiotics routinely to prevent bacterial infections ?

You do need need antibiotics to prevent infections unless there is a specific  reason like an immune compromised child or an exposure to a serious bacterial infection. It is false to believe that children who get colds needs antibiotics to prevent ear or  sinus infection. The antibiotics works in some cases but most of the time, it selects out resistant germs to cause a secondary infection. It is essential to save the antibiotics  for those children who go on to develop a bacterial infection.

Bacterial resistance

The major cause of resistance bacterial strains is excessive use of antibiotics. This makes future treatment  of bacterial infection difficult. Many bacterial are now resistance to antibiotics that are used to control them. So we tend to use newer and more expensive antibiotics. However the bacteria develop resistant to these as well.

What are the side effects of antibiotics ?

Some of the common side effects of antibiotics include the following:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• rash

NOTE

Your child doesnt need antibiotics anytime she has a cold, fever or cough. Do not pressurize your doctor for antibiotics. He/She will prescribe antibiotics if he/she feels its  a bacterial infection based on the symptoms. Most viral infection can be managed  with over the counter pain medication, drinking lot of fluids and getting enough rest. Antibiotics do not shorten the course of a viral infection.

Contact your pediatrician if

• symptoms gets worse
• fever is persistent
• child is not eating well and lethargy
• child has dehydration
• child has any other acute symptoms