Anti-Biotics - Should I or shouldn't I?

[Smurfette]

I need some advice about this. Livs normal cough and cold has turned quite nasty. She is coughing horribly with lots of pleghm (sp?),wheezing, not sleeping and now seems to have lost her voice. She has a really green runny nose and is becoming very miserable.
I took her to the doctors yesterday and he said it is all okay and normal not anything too serious and precribed her anti-biotics.
I'm not keen on medication but if it helps her I will get it. Has anyone used anti-biotics before? Liv is 9 months old. I'm scared her cold will deteriate (sp?) into something worse.

[Caitlin's Mum]

I've used antibiotics for both my children, DD is now nearly 4 (she had antibiotics a lot when she was a baby due to recurring ear infections) and DS is 10 months. It's best to get rid of the bug before it turns into something worse. Antibiotics won't do them any harm (well not that I've found anyway). Good luck, hope your little one is feeling better soon.

[Miaow]

Hi Tracy

Poor Liv :( This sounds like theone EJ and I have got at present. We've been 2 the docs 2 times (once was a paediatrician for another reason) and he just keeps saying its viral and nothing can really do. We've both lost our voices also - We've both had it for a week now. EJ's had antibiotics for a cold before but this time they said they didnt think it was needed.

The green runny nose is bacterial i think which is why the antibiotics. EJs started to go green and then its disappeared to clear. When she's had antibiotics before the penicillian gave her a little diarhoea but did fix up the problem.

If the doc has percribed them Id say that are needed as both the 2 i went to didnt cause said only a virus no sign of bacterial infection (ie the green) and her chest was clear though her throat was a little red

Hope she gets over it soon the coughs a real bad one i know

[Tam-I-Am]

I know its scary the first time your littlie is prescribed antis, but it does sound like she needs them - the green mucous and all the other symptoms really sound like an upper-respiratory tract infection (having said that I'm not a doctor - I just have had a lot of URT infections!)

I would personally give them to her - it might do more harm to NOT give them, iykwim - she is obviously struggling to get better on her own, and needs a boost, better not to leave it any longer.

The doctor also would have done a cost-benefit analysis of prescribing the antis, to see if the benefits outweigh the risks, and obviously decided that Liv needed them.

Good luck, hope your bubba feels better soon!

[cjb/jbvd]

:hugs:

i had to give my DS anti biotics at 4 months old for a chest infection (similar to what your bub has) :(

doc's don't like prescribing medication for littlies either, so they only do it when they have to.

it's a pain in the rear to get them to take it, but it's the only thing that will prevent it from deteriorating into something very bad.

and make sure you give her some yoghurt regularly when she takes the medication, to help prevent thrush and tummy upsets. :thumbsup:

she'll be fine, don't worry!!!!
:hugs:

[Rell]

My DS had antibiotics at just 3 weeks old when he had a UTI and had no problems with them at all.
I'm lucky that I have a Dr who will only give antibiotics if it is absolutly necessary, so if she prescribes them I feel happy that that is what my kids need.
If you feel confident with your Dr then give her the antibiotics otherwise you could get another opinion.
Over use of antibiotics can be a real problem not only for society (bugs start to become amune to them) but also to a child. They will strip the body of all the good bacteria so it is important to give your child some yogurt or probiotic to counter act this.
Good luck I hope your little girl is better soon

[Smurfette]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I didn't go get them in the end, her nose seemed to clear up ( wasn't green, turned clear) and her cough really eased up. She had her normal 3 hrs sleep today, so I think that helped a bit.
I'm sure it will be something else next week, so I will be sure to remember all the advice you have given me for next time. Especially about the yogurt, didn't know that. Thanks again.

[pegasus]

Just on the yoghurt topic - my paediatrician told me that the only yoghurt that still has live bacteria by the time it gets to the gut is Vaalia. Not sure on the comparison to Yakuult or other probiotic, but have to admit, when my son did eat the Vaalia, he did well enough.