A Prescription for Parents: Five Hints to Understanding Antibiotic Usage
A Prescription for Parents: Five Hints to Understanding Antibiotic Usage
When are antibiotics necessary? Your doctor can best answer this complicated question and the answer depends on the diagnosis. Here are a few examples:
- Ear infections: There are several types; many need antibiotics, but some do not.
- Sinus infections: Most children with thick or green mucus do not have sinus infections. Antibiotics are needed for some long-lasting or severe cases.
- Cough or bronchitis: Children rarely need antibiotics for bronchitis.
- Sore throat: Viruses cause most cases. Only one major kind, “strep throat,” requires antibiotics. This condition must be diagnosed by a laboratory test.
- Colds: Colds are caused by viruses and may last for two weeks or longer. Antibiotics have no effect on colds, but your doctor may have suggestions for obtaining comfort while the illness runs its course.
It is worth noting that viral infections sometimes lead to bacterial infections. But treating viral infections with antibiotics will not prevent bacterial infections and may trigger infections with resistant bacteria. Keep your doctor informed if the illness gets worse, or lasts a long time, so that the proper treatment can be given as needed.
See also: Antibiotic Resistance - Frequently Asked Questions, Facts About Antibiotic Resistance, How You Can Help Prevent Antibiotic Resistance, Five Hints for Parents to Understanding Antibiotic Usage, A Childs Runny Nose: Tips for Parents, Cold and Flu Season: No Reason for Antibiotics
Used with permission of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)