Bronchitis is one of the most common and serious diseases of the respiratory tract in children. Often, doctors prescribe antibiotics for treatment. But this is not always justified. In most cases, bronchitis is caused by a viral infection or an allergic reaction. And antibiotics are needed to fight bacteria or other microorganisms. Inappropriate prescribing of such drugs can cause complications and harm the health of the child. Therefore, antibiotics should be used for children with bronchitis only after conducting the necessary tests and determining the cause of the disease.
When it is necessary to prescribe antibacterial drugs
Antibiotics for children with bronchitis are prescribed in the presence of a bacterial infection. Such drugs do not act on viruses and only worsen the condition of the child, as they reduce immunity. And it is possible to determine the causative agent of the disease only by analyzing sputum, which is not always done. Therefore, there are other signs that indicate the presence of bacteria in the body of the child:
- more than 3 days the temperature is kept up to 38 degrees;
- it is difficult for the child to breathe, even shortness of breath appears;
- viscous greenish sputum with impurities of pus leaves;
- signs of intoxication appear;
- if the child is less than a year old.
In no case should you give antibiotics on your own for bronchitis for children 4 years old and younger. Only a doctor can decide whether a child needs such medicines.
How to use antibiotics
The main rule for the use of such drugs is that they must be taken under strict medical supervision. Only a specialist can choose the right medicine and determine its dosage and duration of administration. And parents must follow all his instructions. In most cases, antibiotics for bronchitis for children 7 years of age and older are prescribed in the form of tablets or capsules. But now there are such drugs in the form of suspensions or syrup, which is more convenient for small children.
How to use antibiotics for children with bronchitis?
- Such drugs are usually prescribed for a period of 5 to 7 days. If bronchitis proceeds with complications and in a chronic form, the time of admission can be extended to 2 weeks. You can not stop taking medication yourself earlier than this period, even if there is an improvement. Bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance.
- One of the features of the use of such drugs is the intake schedule. You need to drink them strictly at certain intervals - 8, 12 or 24 hours. This is the only way to ensure a constant level of antibacterial substances in the blood.
- When prescribing an antibiotic for children, it is very important to accurately determine the dosage. It depends on the age and body weight of the child.
- You need to study the instructions to find out whether you need to take the drug before or after meals.
What antibiotics are prescribed for children with bronchitis
According to the rules, you can choose antibiotics for the treatment of bronchitis only after determining the pathogen. But most often, drugs with a wide spectrum of action are prescribed. According to the experience of doctors, the causative agents of bronchitis are the most sensitive to three types of antibiotics:
- penicillins - Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, Flemoxin Solutab;
- cephalosporins - "Ceftriaxone", "Cefotaxime", "Zinnat";
- macrolides - Macropen, Sumamed, Hemomycin.
The choice of drug depends on the age of the child, his state of health and the characteristics of the course of the disease.
How to use antibiotics for bronchitis for children 3 years of age and younger
At this age, inflammation of the bronchi is very dangerous due to the characteristics of the anatomy and physiology of the child. More often, complications of bronchitis occur in babies. Small bronchi become clogged with sputum, and it leaves very hard, which can cause the development of pneumonia. Therefore, in many cases, the treatment of this disease occurs in a hospital.
If there is a need to take antibacterial drugs, then at this age many of them are contraindicated. In addition, antibiotics for bronchitis for children 1 year old and younger are most often used as injections. In this way, the medicine acts faster. And the observation of a doctor in antibiotic treatment in babies is necessary because these drugs often cause serious side effects. In addition to diarrhea and vomiting, young children may have cramps, fainting, and a change in blood picture.
Penicillin antibiotics
These antibacterial drugs are active against most pathogens of bronchitis. But they have many side effects, most often cause allergic reactions or dysbiosis. Therefore, you need to take them together with vitamins C and B, as well as with probiotics to preserve the intestinal microflora. It should be borne in mind that the penicillin group drugs are active against staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci, but are ineffective against chlamydia and mycoplasmas, which can also cause bronchitis.
From this group, such antibiotics are more often prescribed for bronchitis for children 10 years of age and younger: Amoxicillin, Flemoxin Solutab , Sulbactam, Ospamox. The preparations containing amoxicillin with clavulanic acid possess a pronounced antibacterial effect: Amoxiclav, Augmentin.
Cephalosporins
The antibiotics of the cephalosporin group are also effective in killing bacteria: Zinnat, Cefadox, Loprax, and Suprax. They are used less often, mainly if the patient has penicillin intolerance. They are also used in the complex treatment of complicated bronchitis. Most often, children are prescribed several drugs.
- Zinnat is available in the form of granules for the preparation of a suspension. Apply to children from 3 months.
- Suprax is 3rd generation cephalosporin. The drug is prohibited for babies up to six months. The suspension should be given to the child 2-3 times a day.
- "Ceftriaxone" is a very effective drug that helps to cope with inflammation in 3-4 days. But this antibiotic is available in injection.
Macrolides
This group of drugs has been prescribed most often recently, since penicillins and cephalosporins cause a violation of intestinal microflora and other side effects. Macrolides do not have toxic effects on the kidneys and intestines. In addition, they are active against a large number of microorganisms and penetrate deep into cells. Therefore, they are considered more effective. Such antibiotics are most often prescribed for bronchitis for children 5 years of age and older:
- "Rulid";
- Macropen
- "Azithromycin" and its imported analogue, "Sumamed";
- Hemomycin.
Which antibiotic to choose
The safest and most effective drugs are those containing amoxicillin. But there are bacteria that have mutated and become insensitive to the action of these drugs. Therefore, you need to choose drugs from this group that contain clavulanate or sulbactam. On the package it should be written: "Amoxicillin + clavulanate." The most effective in this regard are modern drugs.
- "Amoxiclav" is a suspension that is used for children from 3 months. It is necessary to give 2 times a day depending on the weight of the child. The drug is highly effective against pathogens of bronchitis.
- "Flemoxin Solutab" - a drug based on amoxicillin, is indicated for children from 1 month. Effectively relieves inflammation.
- "Augmentin" is often prescribed for bronchitis. The combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid effectively kills bacteria. Children are prescribed the drug in the form of a suspension.
Features of antibiotic treatment
The main thing that parents should know is that you can not give antibiotics to a child yourself without a doctor's prescription. In addition, with such treatment, several rules must be observed:
- if after 3 days there is no improvement or the child becomes worse, the drug should be discontinued, but the doctor should do this;
- it is very important to observe the dosage prescribed by the doctor and not to miss the time of taking the medicine;
- antibiotics disrupt the intestinal microflora, so probiotics are prescribed at the same time: Linex, Normobact, Bifiform;
- with such treatment, it is important to constantly monitor the child’s reaction and, if side effects occur, stop taking the drug and inform the pediatrician.
Antibiotics for children are prescribed by a specialist for severe bacterial infections. You can not choose a medicine yourself. These drugs are very serious remedies that often cause side effects.