Scarlet fever is an infectious pathology transmitted by airborne droplets and affecting mainly children. After the illness, immunity is formed that lasts for life. As a separate disease, it was described back in 1675. Scarlatum is translated from Latin as "deep red". A characteristic symptom of the disease is precisely a special rash, which is called scarlet fever. Treatment of the disease involves the use of antibacterial agents. And what antibiotics for scarlet fever in children are prescribed, we will consider in this article.
general information
Scarlet fever affects mainly children aged two to sixteen. An infection can enter the body only from one individual to another or through objects of common use, i.e., from the outside. The main route of transmission is by airborne droplets. The hemolytic streptococcus of group A of a specific type is the main source of the problem, it is he who is considered the causative agent of the disease. The disease can develop when the child comes in contact with an apparently healthy person, without any signs of illness. It is known that about fifteen percent of the world's population are passive carriers of various pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria that live on the mucous tissues of the nasopharynx and are constantly released into the environment.
Signs of the disease appear on the fifth to tenth day after infection, and in weakened children - much faster. They have an incubation period of one to four days. A patient is considered dangerous for others within two or three weeks from the moment the clinical picture manifests.
Treatment
Antibiotic treatment for scarlet fever in children is carried out at home. Staying in stationary conditions is required only in exceptional situations:
- with a strongly weakened immune system;
- with a high risk of complications.
To stop the signs of the disease and to alleviate the general condition of a small patient, the following measures are recommended:
- For at least ten days it is advisable to isolate the child so that he does not have contact with other individuals.
- In the acute period of the disease, bed rest is indicated. With the normalization of the state, games and short walks are allowed.
- Drinking regimen should be organized. Enrich the diet with compotes, fruit juices, fruit drinks, herbal teas with the addition of citrus fruits, as well as decoctions of dried fruits.
- Limit the intake of canned food, fried, smoked and fatty foods, sparkling water. Give preference to liquid, mashed or mashed dishes.
- Enterosorbents - Enterosgel, anti-allergic agents - Chloropyramine, probiotics - Bifiform, have proven themselves well as maintenance therapy.
Antibiotics for scarlet fever
Before the advent of such a group of drugs, many serious ailments, including scarlet fever, were deadly for the baby. Currently, thanks to timely and high-quality treatment, the doctor can easily stop the signs of the disease. The penicillin group of medicines acts most effectively on type A streptococci. These antimicrobial agents are recognized as essential when prescribing basic therapy. We list some names of antibiotics for scarlet fever in children:
- "Flemoxin Solutab", "Amoxicillin", "Hikontsi" - are semi-synthetic agents.
- Retarpen is biosynthetic.
- Amoxil is aminopenicillin.
- "Graximol" is beta-lactam.
If there are undesirable reactions or intolerance to penicillin preparations, then the medications of choice in this case are macrolides and cephalosporins. The first include:
- "Club";
- Hemomycin;
- "Josamycin";
- "Remora."
To cephalosporins - "Cefesol", "Cefazolin" and others.
Of the reserve funds, preferred are lincosamides - Linkomycin.
When antibiotics for scarlet fever are prescribed
When and what antibiotics to take with scarlet fever in children? Not in all cases, taking tablets is indicated. The doctor decides on the appointment of antibiotic therapy individually. Taking medication helps to avoid or minimize the risk of complications.
The use of antibiotics in the treatment of the disease is recommended in the early stages of the disease. First of all, the doctor prescribes a penicillin group of drugs that are effective for any degree of pathology severity. If there is no improvement in well-being after two days, then another drug is selected. Medications of the macrolide group are used to treat scarlet fever when penicillins cannot be used.
They have a wide spectrum of action and are used to destroy staphylococci and streptococci. Cephalosporins or lincosamides are used in rare cases. How many days do children have to drink antibiotics for scarlet fever? Take them for at least ten days. Along with taking antibiotics as a concomitant therapy, the doctor may recommend antihistamines, as well as probiotics that help restore impaired intestinal microflora.
The principle of action of penicillin group antibiotics
Preparations of this group have been known for over ninety years. They were the first open antibiotics. Penicillins have been used for treatment since the forties of the last century. Acting on the cell of a pathogenic microorganism, the drug blocks the production of peptidoglycan - the substance that the bacterium basically consists of. As a result, the growth and reproduction of the causative agent of the disease ceases, and he dies.
Penicillins, destroying cellular bacteria, do not affect the body of an individual. Over time, microorganisms adapted and began to produce beta-lactamase, i.e., they developed resistance to penicillin drugs. In order to cope with the changed bacteria, new agents were invented, called "protected penicillins."
Types of penicillin preparations
When treating scarlet fever in children, which antibiotics are better to use? Penicillin antibiotics are recognized as basic or first-line drugs, which can be divided into:
- Natural - "Penicillin", "Benzatin benzylpenicillin."
- Semi-synthetic or ampicillin - "Amoxicillin."
- Penicillins of the second and third generation, with a wide spectrum of action - Ampicillin, Augmentin.
- Combined or potentiated penicillins - Ampicillin + Sulbactam, which have the greatest effect on microorganisms.
Side effects and contraindications of penicillin preparations
Incorrect use of antibiotics for scarlet fever in children provokes undesirable effects that manifest themselves:
- allergic reactions;
- swelling;
- nausea
- coma;
- cramps
- urticaria;
- neurotoxic reactions.
The above symptoms are sometimes accompanied by fever and rash. In rare cases, anaphylactic shock develops. The toxic effect of penicillins is manifested by candidiasis.
It is forbidden to take this group of drugs in case of intolerance, as well as in case of an allergy to the use of penicillin antibiotics.
Release form
Antibiotics, for the convenience of their use in the treatment of diseases, the pharmaceutical industry produces in various dosage forms: these are tablets, capsules, syrups, granules, powders, bottles and ampoules for injection.
One of the most common routes of administration is oral ingestion of tablets, and for young children, the most suitable forms are syrup and granules for the preparation of a solution. It is desirable to drink the medicine with ordinary water, the temperature of which is not higher than room temperature. This is the advice of Dr. Komarovsky with scarlet fever in children.
Antibiotic Flemoxin Solutab
The active substance is amoxicillin trihydrate. The drug is acid resistant, it is active against streptococci and other microorganisms. The dose is set individually, it depends on the age and severity of the disease. Standard treatment regimen:
- 125 mg three times or 250 mg twice a day - for babies from a year to three;
- 250 mg three times or 375 mg twice a day - for children from three to ten years;
- from 375 to 500 mg three times or 500-750 mg twice a day - for children over ten years of age, as well as adults.
The daily dose of antibiotic for scarlet fever in children is from 30 to 60 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (this dose is divided into two or three doses, including for babies under the age of twelve months).
For the treatment of scarlet fever, a medication is used for at least ten days. In addition, it is recommended to take it after the disappearance of signs of the disease for forty-eight hours.
Antibiotic Retarpen
The active substance is benzathine benzylpenicillin, which refers to biosynthetic penicillins. The medicine is used after contact with a patient with scarlet fever and only in the form of injections. A single dose for children varies from five to ten thousand units per kilogram of body weight. The doctor determines the duration and frequency of administration of the drug individually for each small patient.
Antibiotic Suprax
The active substance is cefixime. This antibiotic for scarlet fever in children is considered particularly effective, refers to third-generation cephalosporins. In children's practice, it is mainly used in the dosage form of granules, from which a suspension is prepared, which has a light strawberry flavor and has a sweet taste. Taking the drug is prohibited until six months of age. The daily dose (in ml) is selected depending on the age of the small patient:
- up to a year - from 2.5 to 4;
- from two to four years - 5;
- from five to eleven - 6–10.
They give it once or divided into two doses, having sustained an interval of twelve hours. A suspension is prepared in accordance with the description that is attached to the preparation, and the prepared solution is used within fourteen days from the date of preparation.
Antibiotics for scarlet fever in children
List of the most famous and widely used medicines:
- “Augmentin”;
- Amoxiclav;
- "Azithromycin";
- "Sumamed";
- Clarithromycin;
- Hemomycin;
- Suprax
- Kefzol;
- Zinnat;
- Ketocef;
- "Cefamezin."
Conclusion
Antibacterial agents help to cope with the clinical manifestations of the disease. However, their incorrect and irrational reception can lead to the appearance of undesirable phenomena.
What antibiotic to drink for scarlet fever for children? The prescription of drugs in the treatment of this disease is the prerogative of the attending doctor. For therapy, drugs of various antibacterial groups are used - penicillins, macrolides, cephalosporins. With the right medicine, on the second day of admission, the child has significant improvement. Antibacterial therapy in the treatment of scarlet fever pursues such goals as facilitating general well-being, reducing the risk of infection of others, as well as the development of complications.