Don’t force that antibiotic prescription!

If you have young kids, then your home is probably the scene for steady cases of coughs, colds and ear infections throughout the year. You probably already have a few favorite antibiotics. You know, the ones your pediatrician prescribes and voila, after a day or two that cough isn’t as nasty anymore, or the fever from an ear infection finally breaks.

Last week, my son had a bad sounding cough. I brought him to his doctor expecting we’d get a prescription, but bad as the cough sounded, we were just told to ride it out. His pediatrician checked his throat and ears and concluded my 5-year old had a virus. No bacterial infection, so no antibiotics for him. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. Life is so much easier with the quick cure! But the doctor knows what he’s talking about and what’s best is to follow his advice.

Apparently, there is a trend of over-prescribing antibiotics – particularly for kids whose parents are expecting that quick cure. Guilty! Our doctor explained why sometimes we just have to let that annoying cold or cough run its course. Using antibiotics indiscriminately has bad repercussions.

Antibiotics are active against bacteria. However, They have no power over viruses. In fact, antibiotics also kill good bacteria that naturally live in our bodies, and these good bacteria form part of our immunity. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily is bad for our immune systems in the long run. Over-prescription has been blamed for the steady rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Bacteria are smart. They evolve according to what they are exposed to. You use antibiotics a lot, then you give bacteria in your body the chance to study them – and find ways to outsmart them. This is another reason why, when prescribed antibiotics, doctors emphasize finishing its full course of treatment even when symptoms have been relieved.

Dr. Richard Schwartz, professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. also wants to clear up some misconceptions about childhood illnesses. He says, “In most cases, green or yellow running nose is just a normal part of having a viral cold and should not be treated with antibiotics.”

Doctors also explain that unless a child is under 6 months old, has a high fever or trouble breathing, it is best to wait and let the real illness present itself.

Your child may fell rotten, but it’s best not to force your MD to give that antibiotic prescription when he tells you what your child has is viral. It’s a little sacrifice for everyone’s long term health. Your adult child’s immune system will thank you for it!

My son got over the cough, as his doctor said. All he had was some rest and lots of fluids. Sometimes I think chicken soup is way better than antibiotics!

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