Antibiotics for children with colds: what adults need to know

The use of antibiotics for colds is one of the most controversial points in medical practice. Some doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs at the first symptoms of the disease . There are also specialists who recommend giving antibiotics to children at the very last. What exactly you can not do is do self-medication. The process of recovery should be strictly supervised by a qualified specialist.

What are they?

Many mothers without a doctor's consultation get antibiotics for children with a cold. At the same time they do not even imagine what kind of preparations they are. In fact, antibiotics are simple products of vital activity of various microorganisms. Most often derivatives are fungi. Special substances that are produced by microorganisms, contribute to the death of bacteria or stop their reproduction.

It should be remembered that not all bacteria are pathogenic. Almost all of these single-celled organisms are inhabited. Exceptions are only cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The weight of the total number of bacteria in the adult human body is several kilograms! Many unicellular animals are of great benefit. Without them, the organs could not function properly, and the immune system would be too vulnerable. Parents should remember that antibiotic treatment of children can be dangerous. The specialist should prescribe a comprehensive treatment aimed not only at a particular disease, but also on the restoration of a healthy microflora.

When antibiotics are powerless?

Antibiotics can be used only to treat diseases caused by bacteria. To clean up viral infections with the help of such medicamentous means is inexpedient. The parents are mistaken, who immediately begin to give the child a good antibiotic for a cold. Whatever the quality of the medicine, it can be useless.

A common runny nose, cough, sore throat often have a viral nature. Bacterial diseases with cold symptoms are rare. Therefore, children's antibiotics for colds are appointed in exceptional cases. Previously, the doctor must establish an accurate diagnosis.

Viruses, which excite respiratory diseases in children, are quite numerous. The immune system must develop antibodies. It is not accidental that in preschool age children get sick often enough. This is absolutely normal. Antibiotics also contribute to the suppression of immunity. If the baby does not have the necessary antibodies in childhood, he will often get sick at an older age.

Use of antibacterial agents

Ordinary colds in children last no more than two weeks. In this treatment is reduced only to the elimination of symptoms. The body struggles with the infection itself. It is no accident that pediatricians do not recommend that the temperature be lower than 38.5 degrees. If the disease is prolonged, the doctor may prescribe an additional study to identify the cause. Determine that the common cold has a bacterial character, with the help of a conventional visual inspection is impossible.

Disease-causing bacteria are dangerous not only for the appearance of unpleasant cold symptoms. They can also contribute to the occurrence of complications. An untreated, properly bacterial infection threatens the appearance of rheumatism and heart problems. In this case, a good antibiotic for a cold should be appointed necessarily.

The most common childhood disease, which must necessarily be treated with an antibacterial drug, is purulent angina. The illness is characterized by severe pain in the throat, the appearance of a white coating on the glands and an increase in body temperature to 40 degrees.

Can there be side effects?

Any drug has a list of side effects. Not an exception are also antibacterial agents. In this case, it is rather difficult to answer the question, what antibiotics are better for colds. Negative effects will be minimized with strict adherence to the prescription of the doctor.

The main disadvantage is the fact that not only pathogenic bacteria get into the effect of drugs, but also those that live quietly in the human body and contribute to its normal functioning. The microflora is broken, it means that the child may have unpleasant symptoms. These include fungal infections of the mucous membranes, a violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, allergic reactions in the form of rash and redness. There may be other symptoms that will depend on the individual tolerability of the particular drug.

We comply with safety regulations

To antibiotics for children with a cold do not have harmful effects, you should know a few rules. First of all, you can not use antibacterial drugs without prescribing a doctor. There is another side to the coin. If the drug is still prescribed, you should drink it strictly according to the scheme. The fact is that unpleasant symptoms can disappear already the next day after the start of antibiotics. But this does not mean that the baby is healthy. Initially, only sensitive bacteria die. The course of antibiotic treatment usually lasts no less than five days.

Some medicines should not be taken with alcohol. Therefore, antibiotics for children with colds can not be prescribed in parallel with herbal tinctures on alcohol. The combination of such drugs can lead to the appearance of shortness of breath in a baby, rapid heartbeat, as well as dizziness.

Along with antibacterial treatment, the doctor must prescribe drugs that will maintain the normal microflora of the body.

What antibiotics to use to treat a child?

On the market today there is a huge amount of antibacterial agents in various forms. For infants, special preparations are made in the form of a suspension. In the most severe cases, injections are given that have a stronger effect. In addition, the classes are divided antibiotics for colds. The same tool can have different names. Penicillin group includes such drugs as "Amoxiclav", "Augmetin", "Ampicillin". Means "Azithromycin" refers to macrolides, and medicines "Cefuroxime" and "Suprax" to cephalosporins.

Virtually all antibiotics, produced by domestic manufacturers, can be used to treat bacterial diseases in children. Depending on the age, only the dosage differs. Antibiotics for children with colds are rarely offered in tablets.

What antibiotics are contraindicated for children?

In connection with the weakened immune system, all side effects from antibacterial drugs in babies are much more pronounced than in adults. Often there are such troubles as dysbacteriosis and fungal infections of the oral mucosa. In connection with this, some antibiotics may be contraindicated. The names of drugs that are dangerous for your baby should be checked with your doctor in advance.

For children under the age of three, categorically contraindicated drug "Levomycetin." There is a huge risk of damage to the central nervous system. Cases of death are known. Not the best option is still some antibiotics for colds. The name of the agent "Ceftriaxone" should alert you. Cephalosporins of the third generation contribute to complete sterilization of the intestine. As a result, the normal microflora practically perishes, and the fungus comes to replace it. Getting rid of such an infection can be difficult.

Several rules for the use of antibacterial agents

To ensure that the antibiotic has a maximum of beneficial effects and does not harm the body, it should be used in accordance with the form of the disease. So, if the disease struck the upper respiratory tract, the ideal option would be drops and aerosols. Injectable drugs can be prescribed by a doctor in exceptional cases.

Ideally, only after a full study of the focus of infection should be prescribed antibiotics. The doctor will tell you the names of the drugs after determining the sensitivity of the pathogen. To combat specific groups of pathogenic bacteria, various types of antibacterial agents are used.

Strictly prohibited the use of antibiotics, which have expired. For example, an overdue drug "Tetracycline" is able to cause a child a very complicated kidney damage. Buy funds are only in specialized pharmacies.

Recovery after antibiotic therapy

The intake of antibiotics can not pass without a trace for the child's body. In the best case, the microflora suffers. In the worst - the immune system weakens, and normal metabolism is disrupted.

To eliminate toxins and recover after ail helps proper nutrition. The child's diet should necessarily include a large number of vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products. During the exacerbation of the disease, the child should be given more fluid. In parallel, biopreparations can be used to restore normal microflora. In this case, treatment should be strictly coordinated with the doctor.