Many parents have a fear of antibiotics, while others believe that this is the best medicine and independently prescribe them to their children for various diseases, especially when it comes to a protracted disease. With angina in children, antibiotics are sometimes the best way out. However, it should be remembered that they are not used for all types of this disease. Only a narrow-profile doctor - an ENT or a pediatrician, must decide whether the child should drink antibiotics. Incorrect prescribing can harm a child’s health.
What sore throat are we treating?
Another name for tonsillitis is acute tonsillitis. This disease is an infectious and inflammatory process that occurs in the palatine tonsils of the pharyngeal ring. Another popular name for this disease is inflammation of the tonsils.
Meanwhile, under this common name hides four types of angina, which differ in local changes in the pharynx. That is why the answer to parents' frequent questions about whether a child is required to drink antibiotics with angina depends on what type of disease is diagnosed. In some types, antibiotics are not only optional, but can also harm health.
- Catarrhal. It is characterized by an increase in palatine arches and tonsils, as well as their redness, enlargement, and swelling.
- Follicular. For this type of angina, catarrhal symptoms are characteristic. However, reddened and swollen tonsils have, among other things, small yellowish pustules.
- Ulcerative-membranous. The surface of the tonsil is covered with an easily removable very thin and delicate film, after the removal of which the sores open.
- Lacunar. In the depressions of the tonsils (gaps), pus begins to accumulate.
Common symptoms
Despite local differences, for any type of sore throat, symptoms such as:
- swelling and redness of the arches and tonsils;
- fever;
- soreness and enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes;
- symptoms of intoxication;
- pain when swallowing.
Pathogens
Various pathogens can cause a sore throat: spirochetes, fungi, viruses and bacteria. That is why antibiotics for tonsillitis in children are not always used.
Quite often, angina is the result of viral infections: enterovirus, herpetic, adenovirus. In this case, antibiotics will not do absolutely any good, and treatment is carried out with antiviral drugs. Moreover, taking antibiotics in this case can cause a decrease in immunity, which will lead to a worsening of the condition.
For young children, effective antibiotics for sore throats can also be prescribed to combat secondary infection, even if the sore throat itself is caused by a virus.
Angina caused by fungi is also not treated with antibiotics. In this case, they often only exacerbate the situation.
For the treatment of bacterial tonsillitis in children, antibiotics are mandatory. Usually they are prescribed by a doctor. Streptococcus is a typical causative agent of this type of tonsillitis. However, palatine tonsils can affect both staphylococci and even pneumococci, but such cases are rare.
Most often, streptococci become the cause of follicular tonsillitis, which most people know as "purulent". Since bacteria are the causative agent of this type of disease, it is better to give a child an antibiotic with purulent tonsillitis. What pathogens caused acute tonsillitis, only a doctor can figure out, so it is so important not to self-medicate.
Viral sore throat
If acute tonsillitis is of viral origin and is caused by enteroviral, herpetic or adenovirus infection, then antiviral drugs are prescribed instead of antibiotics. The doctor, even at the initial examination, in most cases can distinguish this type of tonsillitis by the following signs:
- There is no plaque on the tonsils, only bright redness and swelling of the tonsils are available.
- Herpetic tonsillitis suggests the presence of small vesicles on the mucous membranes of the mouth and tonsils containing a clear liquid. Opening up, they expose small sores.
Also, viral tonsillitis has previous or concomitant symptoms of rhinopharyngoconjunctivitis:
- dry cough;
- runny nose;
- lacrimation.
Bacterial tonsillitis begins with a fever, and into the list of accompanying symptoms you can record intoxication and such local symptoms as a plaque on the tonsils and sore throat.
Treatment
As a rule, angina does not require hospitalization, and treatment is carried out at home. A sick child should be provided with individual household items: dishes, a towel, bed linen. Otherwise, other family members may become infected. Also, the room must be ventilated two to three times a day and carry out wet cleaning.
How much a child needs to drink an antibiotic with angina is usually decided by a doctor. However, most often, if the drug is prescribed, then a full course is carried out. This is a feature of the medicine. Only after completing the full course can we talk about the work of the drug. Interrupted therapy will not produce any results. You can always see all dosages in the instructions.
Usually children are hospitalized in the first year of life, and also if there are severe pathologies, such as renal failure or diabetes mellitus. Hospitalization is indicated for other complications, and in general in case of a severe course of the disease.
Most frequent appointments by doctors
Antibiotics for angina in children (names below) are prescribed by doctors from preparations of a number of penicillins, cephalosporins and macrolides.
Macrolides include:
- "Sumamed";
- Spiramycin
- Macropen
- "Midecamycin";
- "Azithromycin";
- "Zitrocin";
- "Erythromycin."
They are prescribed in case of an allergy to penicillin. It also happens that the pathogen is insensitive to penicillin preparations. “Sumamed” is one of the most popular, especially for children, as it tends to accumulate in tissues. This reduces the course of treatment to five days.
With angina, penicillin antibiotics for children are prescribed most often. These include:
- Amoxiclav;
- "Medoclav";
- “Augmentin”;
- "Ranclave";
- "Ticarcillin";
- Amoxicillin;
- Amoxiclavin and others.
With bacterial tonsillitis, this series of antibiotics is preferred. Most often, children tolerate them well, and the lack of attachment to meals only adds another point to their merits. If the bacterium is resistant to ordinary penicillins, then Amoxiclav is prescribed - a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid increases the effectiveness of the antibiotic. This group of drugs has a powerful bactericidal effect against pneumococci, staphylococci and streptococci. The latter have a particular sensitivity to this series of drugs.
Cephalosporins - medicines of this group are also effective antibiotics for tonsillitis in children. These are drugs such as:
- Cephalexim;
- "Pantsef";
- "Aksetin";
- Cefotaxime;
- Ceftriaxone and others.
Cephalosporins are an alternative in the treatment of tonsillitis. All drugs have a high activity against many pathogens.
How to make a choice?
What antibiotic to give a child with angina? Doctors prescribe this or that drug after tests and the identification of the pathogen. Doctors take the material during the initial examination. Usually this is a throat swab, which is sent for further bacteriological examination. In addition to identifying the causative agent, such a study will help rule out diphtheria, a very dangerous disease that also manifests itself in inflammation of the tonsils.
A bacteriological examination in a regular public health clinic usually takes at least a couple of days. Therefore, doctors, based on the symptoms of the disease, most often make an appointment right away. After two to three days, the doctor examines the child again and notes the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the prescribed drug. This can be judged by the general condition of the child, the state of the tonsils and the temperature. If during this time no improvement in well-being has occurred, and the child continues to have a fever, the doctor prescribes a new drug, based on the results of a bacteriological study.
Amoxicillin is one of the most convenient drugs for treating children. If you are interested in the question of which antibiotic for angina, a child of 3 years old will be most suitable, then in most cases it will be Amoxicillin. In severe cases of the course of the disease, this drug is also prescribed, however, the introduction is in the form of injections. Antibiotics for sore throats for children in the form of injections can be administered if normal administration is not possible.
Amoxicillin is practically non-toxic, and this is one of the most important aspects, and is available in various forms: suspension, capsules, and tablets. This diversity makes it easier to take antibiotics for sore throats for a child 10 years old or younger.
Doctors sometimes prevent distant complications. In this case, after the main course, “Bicillin-3” or “Bicillin-5” can be prescribed. One injection per week or one per month, respectively.
General recommendations
Antibiotics are drugs that take a whole course when taking them. Its duration is most often determined by the doctor. However, it will not be less than five days, with the exception of the aforementioned drug "Sumamed", the course of which is from three to five days, by decision of the doctor.
An independent cessation of treatment after some improvement in the condition of the child may result in various complications from the kidneys and the cardiovascular system. Sometimes this can result in the development of chronic tonsillitis. At the end of treatment, the doctor prescribes control tests of urine, blood and ECG.
Dosage and frequency of admission should be observed strictly as directed by the doctor, because appointments are made taking into account body weight and age, the severity of the disease and the presence or absence of other pathologies. It is better to take antibiotics for children with angina at the same hours, and drink plenty of water, but not juice, milk, lemonade or other drinks.
If the instructions indicate that the drug is not recommended for combination with meals, then you should take it either two hours after a meal, or an hour before it. You should consult a doctor if the child takes various vitamin preparations during treatment, even if it is ordinary ascorbic acid. It reduces the effect of certain antibiotics, and other vitamins can lead to the development of an allergic reaction.
Even when taking the best antibiotics for sore throats, children should have plenty of water and good nutrition, including vegetables and fruits. It is better to refuse chemical vitamin preparations.
Additional drugs
Since the possibility of developing an allergic reaction can never be ruled out, doctors often recommend taking antihistamines (anti-allergic) medications during a course of antibiotics for tonsillitis in children.
Names of drugs: "Tavegil", "Fenistil", "Diazolin", "Zodak", "Peritol", "Tsetrin". The latter applies only to children over two years of age.
All antibiotics are known for their destructive effects on bacteria. However, together with the pathogenic flora, they destroy the intestinal microflora. Especially if these are cephalosporins - broad-spectrum antibiotics. As a result of this, an imbalance in the intestinal microflora can develop - dysbiosis.
Doctors often prescribe for prophylaxis concurrent administration of probiotics. These are “Acipol”, “Acylact”, “Biovestin”, “Biobacton”, “Lactobacterin”, “Bifilis”, “Bifiform-baby”, “Linex” and others. If these drugs are prescribed by a doctor, they should be taken.
Other features
Additionally, according to the doctor's prescription, local antibiotics can be used. They are used in the form of inhalations. For example, the Bioparox drug with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action affects both bacteria and fungi. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect. It can be used for children over two years old. However, this does not replace the main course of antibiotics.
Some parents are surprised when they find out that antibiotics do not have an antipyretic effect. In case of fever, a child, along with the main drugs, should be given antipyretic drugs, such as Nurofen, Paracetamol, and others.
In self-medication, many parents give their children sulfonamide drugs, such as Sulfadimezin, Bactrim, Biseptol and others. Now they are not used to treat children. Any prescription should be discussed with your doctor.
Also, with purulent tonsillitis, you can not use such popular folk remedies as steam inhalations and warming compresses.
Diet and regimen
The presence of fever suggests bed rest. If there is an improvement, then it is allowed to get out of bed. However, outdoor games need to be limited. Swimming and walking are possible only after the temperature returns to normal.
Nutrition recommendations are quite simple: the food of a child with a sore throat should be easily digestible, nutritious and fortified. The consumption of cold or too hot foods is excluded. It is best served warm.
In the early days, children often refuse to eat, but it's not scary. Just give your child more nutritious drink. Suitable, for example, compotes, fruit drinks, broth of wild rose, sweet tea with lemon. Then you can begin to give the patient semi-liquid mashed potatoes and broths, and then return to the usual diet. From the usual menu, you should remove everything that is capable of irritating the mucous membranes: spices, salinity, cold and hot, spicy foods, marinades, crackers.
Honey with angina
Honey is an excellent folk remedy that helps with many diseases. However, tonsillitis is an inflammatory process, therefore, no matter how emollient this product may have, doctors do not recommend giving it to patients before acute inflammatory processes in the tonsils have subsided.
Pure natural honey can cause sore throat and irritate the mucous membranes. When the raids come off, honey can be added to tea or to the baby’s milk. Resorption of a small amount of honey is also allowed. In this case, it will be useful. It provides bactericidal and analgesic effects.
Instead of a conclusion
If the attending physician has determined that the child has a sore throat, then the question of antibiotics should not arise, since the doctor himself will make an appointment depending on the type of pathogen. Bacterial tonsillitis is not treated with anything other than antibiotics. If this disease is started, complications will be very serious, up to disability. With bacterial sore throat, antibiotics, despite the harm to the intestinal microflora, will bring much more benefit. With other types of tonsillitis, antibiotic treatment can be harmful, and in the best case, it simply will not have any effect.
Parents must follow the doctor’s instructions, follow the dosage, duration of the course and the conditions for taking the drugs. After all, untreated angina can give serious complications. One of them is rheumatism and the subsequent formation of heart defects.