What Moms Should Know About Antibiotics

Antibiotics have been one of the greatest treatment advances of this century. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), their overuse and the resultant antimicroboial resistance among pathogens, may become one of the most challenging clinical problems of the next century. Current data suggests that for all ages combined, more than ten million courses of antibiotics are prescribed each year for viral conditions that do not benefit from antibiotics.

So, What's the Big Deal?

Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Wide spread misuse of antibiotics to treat viral infections has led to drug resistant bacteria. In the past ten years, nearly every type of bacteria has become less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it is really needed. These resistant bacteria are strong and spread quickly, threatening communities with new strains of bacteria that are harder and more expensive to treat.

Why Have Antibiotics Been Over-Prescribed?

Both doctors and patients bear some of the blame for the problem. When you arrive in the doctor's office with a sick, unhappy child, he wants to help you and the child feel better. Many parents feel better when they leave with a prescription in hand. "It's a virus, you'll just need to wait for Johnny to get better on his own," is a tough message to deliver. That's why, according to the Journal of Family Practice, up to 60 % of children with colds are treated with antibiotics each year.

How can I protect my child from antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

Use antibiotics only when your doctor has determined that they are likely to be effective. Antibiotics will not cure most colds, coughs, sore throats, or runny noses. Children fight off colds better on their own than with antibiotics. Many moms mistakenly believe that yellow or green mucus means their child has a bacterial infection. Even with a cold, it is normal for mucus to thicken and change color.

Should I ever give my child antibiotics?

Absolutely. There are important uses for these powerful drugs and they should be used to treat bacterial infections. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, you should give it your child. It's important that your child finish the entire course, even after he or she appears to improve. If your child doesn't finish the course, the bacteria may return, and there's an increased likelihood that it will become resistant to that unfinished antibiotic. Also, you should never save a course of antibiotics for later use. It's important to match the right antibiotic to the right bacteria. If you're saving medications, you may misuse an antibiotic that's designed to treat different bacteria.

How do I know if my child has a viral or bacterial infection?

Your doctor is the right person to make a diagnosis. Let your doctor know, that you'd prefer that an antibiotic not be used as part of the treatment, unless it is a critical part of the treatment. Many ear infections, most strep throat and all colds are viral. Most children with discolored mucus do not have sinus infections and don't need antibiotics. Sometimes, viral infections do lead to bacterial infections. If an illness worsens or lasts a long time, your doctor may appropriately prescribe an antibiotic. Treating a viral infection with an antibiotic however will not prevent a bacterial infection and may trigger an infection with resistant bacteria.