In what cases are antibiotics prescribed for a child? Antibiotics for children up to the year: features of treatment

With some diseases, the child's body can not cope without the help of strong drugs. Moreover, many parents are careful not to give antibiotics prescribed by the doctor to the child. In fact, if used correctly, they will do more good than harm, and contribute to the speedy recovery of the baby.

Antibiotics: Definition

Antibiotics are organic substances of semisynthetic or natural origin, which have the ability to destroy microbes or hinder their growth. They cause the death of some bacteria, but for others 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 must 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 reaction. Most often this happens when the dosing regimen is not followed and the medication is taken for a long time.

Many parents are thinking about what antibiotic to give a child with an infectious disease. In this case, self-medication is prohibited. After all, drugs based on tetracyclines and sulfonamides in pediatric practice are not used, and other groups of antibiotics are prescribed according to strict indications.

When are antibiotics necessary for children?

Antibiotics are prescribed to the child in the event that the disease is bacterial etiology, and the body is unable to cope with the pathogen itself. Treatment of some serious diseases is carried out in a stationary mode, constantly watching the reaction of the child's body is not a medicine. In outpatient (home) conditions, antibiotics are treated with "easy" ailments.

In the first days of the disease, it is necessary to observe the condition of the baby and allow the body to overcome the ailment with its own strength. At this time, antibiotic therapy is not prescribed. It should be remembered that high fever, cough and runny nose are not a reason for using such medications. Having established the nature of pathogenic microbes, it is possible to start treatment.

Mandatory antibiotics to the child are prescribed for the following diseases:

• Pneumonia.
• Acute otitis media (including children up to 6 months of age).
• Purulent sore throat.
• Acute (purulent) and chronic sinusitis.
• Paratonzillite.
• Infectious disease of the urinary system.
• Pneumonia.

The usual bronchitis treated with antibiotics is not recommended. Only after confirming the bacterial etiology of ailment, the physician selects the necessary group of drugs and draws up the scheme for taking medicines.

Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in children with antibiotics

Acute respiratory infection caused by viruses is not subject to antibiotic treatment. Such therapy will only damage the small body. This conclusion was made by professional doctors. Unfortunately, many parents do not listen to the opinion of qualified specialists and find out from friends what antibiotics can be given to children in case of a common cold.

Against viruses, antibiotics are powerless until they are not joined by bacteria. Determine this is difficult enough, so you need control over the disease from the pediatrician. If the child returns to a high fever, cough increases, there is a hotbed of chronic illness (tonsillitis, pyelonephritis), possibly the development of bacterial infection in the background of acute respiratory infections.

Parents who doubt whether to give antibiotics to a child even after the appointment of a doctor should realize that in some cases, these medications are simply necessary to alleviate the symptoms of the ailment and the speedy recovery of the baby. After a neglected 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 move from one place to nearby organs. This is facilitated by their anatomical location. Most often, children manifest symptoms of angina, sinusitis, pharyngitis or otitis. Having diagnosed, the doctor should prescribe antibiotics to the child, depending on the individual tolerability and age of the patient. Usually, drugs from the group of cephalosporins ("Cefotaxime", "Supraks"), penicillins ("Flemoxin Solutab", "Augmentin"), macrolides ("Sumamed", "Vilprafen") are usually used.

Long-term use of drugs will cause addiction (resistance), and the sensitivity of microbes to them will disappear. Therefore, for longer than 14 days, antibiotic therapy is not carried out. 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 pick up various intestinal diseases, which 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. Antibacterial drugs and enteroseptics are also used: Enterofuril, Nifuratel.

Antibiotics for babies

The immune system in newborns is not yet capable of repelling an "attack" of pathogenic microorganisms. Special protection is given by breastfeeding, but if the baby does catch a bacterial disease, the child's doctor must prescribe antibiotics. For children up to a year, such medications are usually prescribed if the treatment does not give positive results for 3-5 days, but for serious diseases (meningococcal infection, purulent angina, chronic pathologies), their immediate application is required).

Harm or benefit?

Modern drugs can fight with a bacterial disease with minimal harm to a small body. This does not mean that it is possible "just in case" to give antibiotics to children. Can I do without these drugs? The answer is ambiguous, because some experts hold the view that the treatment of the baby should be done without taking antibiotics. Parents should understand that in this case serious consequences can develop which 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 release of antibiotics

Depending on the age of the small patient, antibiotics can be given as a suspension (syrup), tablets or injections. The latter option is used for severe illnesses in hospital settings. The most common form is syrup. In the kit to 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.

Whichever form of release the drug has not been prescribed, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the child's doctor and observe the dosage and duration of antibiotic treatment. Interrupt the use of the medicine is prohibited. It is necessary to undergo a full course of antibiotic therapy for a complete cure of the infection.

Nasal drops with antibiotic

Popular in this group of antibiotics are the drops of Isofra and Polidex. Absolutely unjustified their use in simple rhinitis, as do some parents. Viral rhinitis does not respond to treatment with 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 rarely. Sometimes they can be prescribed in complex therapy of otitis, sinusitis, sinusitis. "Polidexa" has a hormonal component in its composition, therefore only a doctor can prescribe this medicine. Isofra is a safer drug on a polymer basis, which allows it to be used to treat even newborn babies.

How correctly to give antibiotics to children?

First of all, it is necessary to treat the baby according to the prescription of the doctor. Reception of antibiotics by children is carried out under the strict supervision of adults. Do not use drugs that have been successfully treated by 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 these drugs are prescribed.

When treating children with antibiotics, it is important to observe the following rules:

• Take only the medicines recommended by the pediatrician.
• Follow the prescribed dosage.
• Observe the frequency of antibiotics.
• Take medication as directed - before or after eating.
• Provide bed rest for the baby.
• It is more common to put a newborn baby to the breast.
• Older children need to drink abundantly.
• If there is no improvement or an adverse reaction occurs, tell the doctor about it.
• Go through the entire course of treatment, do not interrupt beforehand.

Consequences of taking antibiotics

Drugs with antibacterial action can bring not only a cure for the infection, but also harm the small body. First of all parents are afraid of the subsequent treatment of a dysbacteriosis. Indeed, a child after antibiotics can face this unpleasant disease, which causes a violation in the intestinal microflora, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, a feeling of bloating. Experts argue that if you follow the recommendations, the risk of an illness is significantly reduced.

Drugs with antibiotics can cause children to have an allergic reaction in the form of rashes on the skin (dermatitis), attacks of nausea, dizziness, burning in the nose (with drops), heart palpitations, candidiasis on the oral mucosa, anaphylactic shock. To prevent the development of side effects, it is necessary to follow the instructions for the use of the medicine and follow the appointment of the doctor in charge, applying prescribed antibiotics to the child. In the event that these symptoms occur, urgent medical attention should be sought.

Recovery of the child's body after antibiotic treatment

Parents should not be afraid of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor to treat an ailment in children, but do everything possible to support the body during and after therapy. Children who are breastfed should be more often applied to their breasts. This will help colonize the intestines with useful bacteria that are contained in milk. If the baby is an artificial person, they will have to colonize the intestines with the help of medicines containing bifidobacteria. This "Lineks", "Hilak Forte", "Bifidumbacterin." A child after taking antibiotics should receive a large amount of fermented milk products and eat properly.

If there was an allergic reaction, it is necessary to cancel the drug and give the baby an antihistamine: "Loratadin", "Diazolin", "Claritin". To avoid undesirable consequences of antibiotic therapy is possible only if you give the child the drugs prescribed by the doctor and monitor the reaction of the body to their action.