A child’s body cannot cope with some diseases without the help of potent drugs. At the same time, many parents are wary of giving antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to the child. In fact, when used correctly, they will bring more benefits than harm, and will contribute to the speedy recovery of the baby.
Antibiotics: definition
Antibiotics are called organic substances of semisynthetic or natural origin, which have the ability to destroy microbes or inhibit their growth. They cause the death of some bacteria, while for others they remain completely harmless. The spectrum of action depends on the sensitivity of organisms.
Purpose of admission
The action of antibiotics is aimed at combating infectious and bacterial pathologies. In each individual case, the drug should be selected by the doctor depending on the age and condition of the patient. Such drugs can cause serious side effects in the form of dysbiosis, neuralgic disorders, allergic reactions. Most often this happens when the dosage regimen is not followed and the medication is taken for a long time.
Many parents think about what antibiotic to give their child with an infectious disease. It is forbidden to self-medicate in this case. After all, drugs based on tetracyclines and sulfonamides are not used in pediatric practice, and other groups of antibiotics are prescribed according to strict indications.
When are antibiotics necessary for children?
Antibiotics are prescribed for the child if the disease is of bacterial etiology, and the body is not able to cope with the pathogen on its own. The treatment of some serious diseases is carried out in a stationary mode, constantly monitoring the reaction of the child's body is not a drug. In outpatient (home) settings, “mild” ailments are treated with antibiotics.
In the early days of the disease, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the baby and allow the body to overcome the disease on its own. At this time, antibiotic therapy is not prescribed. It should be remembered that high fever, cough and runny nose are not a reason for the use of such drugs. Having established the nature of pathogenic microbes, we can proceed to treatment.
Without fail, antibiotics for a child are prescribed for the following diseases:
- Pneumonia.
- Acute otitis media (including in children under 6 months of age).
- Purulent tonsillitis.
- Acute (purulent) and chronic sinusitis.
- Paratonsillitis.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Pneumonia.
Regular bronchitis treated with antibiotics is not recommended. Only after confirmation of the bacterial etiology of the ailment, the doctor selects the necessary group of drugs and draws up a medication schedule.
Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in children with antibiotics
Acute respiratory infections caused by viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics. Such therapy will only harm the small body. This conclusion was reached by professional doctors. Unfortunately, many parents do not listen to the opinion of qualified specialists and find out from friends what antibiotics children can have with a common cold.
Antibiotics are powerless against viruses until bacteria join them. It is quite difficult to determine this, therefore, control over the course of the disease on the part of the pediatrician is necessary. If a high temperature returns to the baby, the cough intensifies, there is a focus of a chronic ailment (tonsillitis, pyelonephritis), the development of a bacterial infection against the background of acute respiratory infections is possible.
Parents who doubt whether to give antibiotics to the child even after the appointment of a doctor should realize that in some cases these drugs are simply necessary to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and the baby’s speedy recovery. After all, a running disease is fraught with serious complications.
The effectiveness of antibiotics in diseases of the ENT organs
In childhood, bacterial ENT infections are common and often pass from one place to nearby organs. This contributes to their anatomical location. Most often, children manifest symptoms of tonsillitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis or otitis media. Having diagnosed, the doctor should prescribe antibiotics for the child, depending on the individual tolerance and age of the patient. Typically, drugs are used from the group of cephalosporins (Cefotaxime, Suprax), penicillins (Flemoxin Solutab, Augmentin), macrolides (Sumamed, Vilprafen).
Long-term use of drugs will be addictive (resistance), and the sensitivity of microbes to them will disappear. Therefore, antibiotic therapy is not carried out for more than 14 days. If the therapeutic effect does not appear after 48 hours, such a medicine is replaced by another, given compatibility with the previous one.
Treatment of intestinal infections with antibiotics in children
Children quickly catch various intestinal diseases that can cause not only bacteria, but also viruses. When it is necessary to treat a bacterial infection, antibiotics are used: Amoxicillin, Cephalexin. They are prescribed depending on the type of pathogen. Also, antibacterial drugs and enteroseptics are used: Enterofuril, Nifuratel.
Antibiotics for babies
The immune system in newborns is not yet able to repel an “attack” of pathogenic microorganisms. Particular protection is provided by breastfeeding, but if the baby nevertheless caught a bacterial disease, then the pediatrician must prescribe antibiotics. For children up to a year, such drugs are usually prescribed if the treatment does not give positive results on 3-5 days, but serious diseases (meningococcal infection, purulent tonsillitis, chronic pathologies) require their immediate use).
Harm or benefit?
Modern drugs can fight a bacterial illness with minimal harm to a small body. This does not mean that you can "just in case" give antibiotics to children. Is it possible to do without these drugs? The answer is ambiguous, because some experts are of the opinion that treatment of infants should be carried out without taking antibiotics. Parents should understand that in this case serious consequences can develop that will further harm the baby’s health. Therefore, it is necessary to adequately assess the situation and not expose the child to danger.
Forms of antibiotic release
Depending on the age of the small patient, antibiotics can be prescribed in the form of a suspension (syrup), tablets or injections. The latter option is used for severe diseases in a hospital setting. The most common form is syrup. In the kit for the bottle is always a measuring spoon, which is convenient to calculate the dose of the drug and give the child. To prepare the suspension, a powder is used, which is diluted with water before use.
Whatever form of release the drug is prescribed, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the pediatrician and observe the dosage and duration of antibiotic treatment. Interruption of medication is prohibited. You need to undergo a full course of antibiotic therapy to completely cure the infection.
Antibiotic nasal drops
Isofra and Polydex drops are popular in this group of antibiotics. Their use is absolutely unjustified in simple rhinitis, as some parents do. Viral rhinitis is not treatable by such means. The ENT should explain when it is necessary to use antibiotics for children.
Treatment of children with drops with antibacterial components is justified only with purulent rhinitis, which occurs in infants quite rarely. Sometimes they can be prescribed in the treatment of otitis media, sinusitis, sinusitis. Polydex has a hormonal component in it, so only a doctor can prescribe this medicine. Isofra is a safer polymer-based drug, which allows it to be used to treat even newborn babies.
How to give antibiotics to children?
First of all, it is necessary to treat the baby as prescribed by the doctor. Children receive antibiotics under the strict supervision of adults. You can not use drugs for treatment that have successfully treated the children of friends and relatives. All children are individual, and the disease can have a different etiology. Only with the confirmation of a bacterial or fungal pathogen are these agents prescribed.
When treating children with antibiotics, it is important to observe the following rules:
- Take only medicines recommended by your pediatrician.
- Follow the prescribed dosage.
- Observe the frequency of taking antibiotics.
- Take medicine according to the instructions - before or after a meal.
- Provide bed rest to the baby.
- More often put a newborn baby to the chest.
- Older children should be given plenty of water.
- If there is no improvement or adverse reaction, you should inform your doctor.
- Complete the entire course of treatment, do not interrupt in advance.
The consequences of taking antibiotics
Drugs with antibacterial action can bring not only a cure for infection, but also harm a small body. First of all, parents are afraid of the subsequent treatment of dysbiosis. Indeed, a child after antibiotics may encounter this unpleasant disease, which causes a violation in the intestinal microflora, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, and a feeling of bloating. Experts say that if the recommendations are followed, the risk of an ailment is significantly reduced.
Antibiotic drugs can cause an allergic reaction in children in the form of skin rashes (dermatitis), nausea, dizziness, burning in the nose (when using drops), palpitations, candidiasis in the oral mucosa, and anaphylactic shock. In order to prevent the development of side effects, it is necessary to follow the instructions for the use of the medicine and follow the prescription of the attending physician, using the prescribed antibiotics for the child. In the event of the listed symptoms, you must urgently seek medical help.
Recovery of the child's body after antibiotic treatment
Parents should not be afraid of the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to treat the disease in children, but do everything possible to support the body during therapy and after it is over. Children who are breastfeeding should be applied more often to their breasts. This will help colonize the intestines with the beneficial bacteria found in milk. If the baby is an artificial, you will have to colonize the intestines with the help of medicines containing bifidobacteria. This is Linex, Hilak Forte, Bifidumbacterin. After taking antibiotics, the child should receive a large number of dairy products and eat properly.
If an allergic reaction occurs, it is necessary to cancel the drug and give the baby an antihistamine: “Loratadine”, “Diazolin”, “Claritin”. It is possible to avoid the undesirable consequences of antibiotic therapy only if you give your child the medications prescribed by your doctor and monitor the body's response to their action.