Every mother tries to avoid the use of antibiotics during her illness. When the pediatrician declares the need for such funds, most parents start to panic. However, not everything is so scary. In some cases, antibacterial drugs can quickly cope with the infection and return the baby to good health. One commonly prescribed medication is Azithromycin. Instructions for use (for children, the drug is used often enough) will be presented to your attention below. You can also find out about substitutes for this drug and reviews about it.
What is Azithromycin?
For a child, the choice of drug is very important. This medication is an antibiotic. It represents a group of macrolides. The medication has a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect on the patient's body. The drug is available in a dosage of 100, 125, 250 and 500 milligrams. The main active ingredient is azithromycin. Depending on the form of release, the medication may have additional components. So, the medicine is available in the form of capsules in a gelatin shell, hard tablets, suspension and powder for its preparation.
"Azithromycin" for a child is one of the commonly prescribed drugs. It is very convenient to use and can give a quick positive effect. Also, this tool is quite safe for the child's body.
When do children need the described antibiotic?
The drug "Azithromycin" for a child should be prescribed exclusively by a pediatrician. Self-administration can lead to negative reactions and unpleasant consequences. The medicine is usually prescribed after the analysis. Also, an antibiotic is indicated when other medicines did not give a positive result within five days. The main indications for the use of the drug "Azithromycin" for a child are the following situations:
- diseases affecting the upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, nasopharyngitis and so on);
- infections that affect the lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and others);
- scarlet fever;
- infections that cause damage to the soft tissues and mucous membranes;
- urinary tract infections.
Also, this medicine may be prescribed by doctors in other situations. In this case, each case is individually considered.
Contraindications to treatment
In what cases is it worth restricting the use of a medication or completely abandoning treatment with Azithromycin? Instructions for use (for children, it is especially important to consider contraindications) reports on the following situations:
- the child is less than 12 years old (capsules, tablets) or less than 6 months (suspension);
- renal failure in a fit form;
- liver diseases, including acquired;
- hypersensitivity to azithromycin;
- some diseases of the stomach and intestines.
Drug dosage
Usually, doctors prescribe the drug "Azithromycin 250 mg" for children. However, for children under three years of age, it is preferable to give a suspension. The dosage of the drug depends on the age of the patient and the choice of dosage form.
For children under 16 years of age, the drug is prescribed at the rate of 10 milligrams of azithromycin for every kilogram of body weight. Since a medicine up to 12 years old is preferable to choose in the form of a suspension, the dose is calculated as follows. For example, your child weighs 10 kilograms. In this case, he needs to be given 100 milligrams of azithromycin. Syrup is available in two doses: 100 and 200 mg per 5 milliliters of the drug. So, in the first case, the baby needs to be given 5 ml of medicine, and in the second - 2.5.
250 mg tablets are recommended for children after 12 years. In this case, you need to drink no more than one capsule or pill per day. It is worth noting that treatment with this medication takes only three days. Only in particularly difficult situations can this period be increased to 4-5 days.
Features of the use of the medication
If the tablets "Azithromycin 250 mg" for children are prescribed, then they can not be chewed and crushed. The drug should enter the stomach unchanged. When using the suspension, it is necessary to shake it well each time before use. Also, the medicine should be washed down with plenty of water. This is especially true for liquid dosage forms.
The medication is taken one hour before a meal or two after a meal. It is also worth recalling the simultaneous use of other drugs. Many medicines can suppress or enhance each other's action. That is why doctors recommend taking a break of two hours between various drugs and Azithromycin.
Side effects
What does the instruction say about the medicine "Azithromycin"? For children, as the annotation reports, only a doctor should prescribe antibiotics, because this drug can cause side effects. However, doctors assure that, subject to the indicated dosage, the medication is well tolerated. Among the most common side effects, experts note weakness, malaise or anxiety, abdominal pain, impaired stool or nausea.
Reviews of doctors and consumers about the drug
Parents of babies say that the most convenient form of the drug "Azithromycin" is a suspension for children. The instruction that is attached to it tells you how to properly prepare the drug and subsequently give it to the child. This product has a sweet taste. That is why children are happy to agree to such treatment.
Customer reviews suggest that this drug is very convenient to use. After all, there is no longer any need to take the medicine for a long time. It is enough to drink the prescribed medication for only three days. Also, the convenience of using the drug is that you need to take the medicine only once a day. At the same time, the effect of treatment does not decrease.
Doctors say that this medicine is quite strong. It is active against many pathological microorganisms. The medicine penetrates the affected cells, and also acts on them from the outside. Experts report that the composition has a positive effect after two days of use. It becomes much easier for the child, and the main indicator of the drug is a decrease in temperature.
How to replace the medicine "Azithromycin 250"?
Instructions for use (children are often prescribed medication) reports that the active ingredient of this drug is the component of the same name azithromycin. Among the analogues of this medication, one can distinguish “AzitRus”, “Azivok”, “Azitroks”, “Zitrolide” and many others.
One of the most popular analogues, which are often prescribed for children of all ages, is Sumamed - this is azithromycin (suspension). For children, the instruction clearly indicates the dosage of the medication. For each age and weight category, different doses are needed. It is also worth saying that the drug "Sumamed" is available in the form of tablets and capsules. However, such types of drugs are not prescribed for children who cannot yet swallow the tablet whole.
Summarizing
Now you know what "Azithromycin" is. This antibiotic is often prescribed for children. Remember that taking this type of drug should only be done after a doctor's examination. Doctors also recommend taking a complex of beneficial bacteria at the same time. Health to your child!