What is “Antibiotic”?
In a simple definition, antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They do this by killing the bacteria or by keeping them from copying themselves or reproducing. The word antibiotic means “against life.” Any drug that kills germs in your body is technically an antibiotic

If your doctor prescribes your baby an antibiotic, it will probably belong to one of the following groups: penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides (the most commonly used in children).

 

General advice about antibiotics:

• Children are sometimes sick (vomit) or get diarrhea when taking antibiotics. Encourage them to drink water to replace the fluid they have lost. If it is severe or your child is drowsy, floppy or does not respond, contact your doctor, local NHS services (details at end of leaflet) or take your child to hospital.
• Do not give your child any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
• Try to give the medicine at about the same times each day, to help you remember, and to make sure that there is the right amount of medicine in your child’s body to kill the bacteria.
• Only give this medicine to your child for their current infection.
• Never save medicine for future illnesses. Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
• Only give the antibiotic to the child for whom it was prescribed. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm

Top Common 5 Questions asked about “antibiotics”:

1) My child has a really bad cold. Why won’t the doctor prescribe an antibiotic?

Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are used specifically for infections caused by bacteria. In general, most common cold symptoms—such as runny nose, cough, and congestion—are mild and your child will get better without using any medicines.

2) Don’t some colds turn into bacterial infections? So why wait to start an antibiotic?

In most cases, bacterial infections do not follow viral infections. Using antibiotics to treat viral infections may instead lead to an infection caused by resistant bacteria. Also, your child may develop diarrhea or other side effects.

If your child develops watery diarrhea, diarrhea with blood in it, or other side effects while taking an antibiotic, call your child’s doctor.

3) Do antibiotics cause any side effects?

Side effects can occur in 1 out of every 10 children who take an antibiotic. Side effects may include rashes, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Make sure you let your child’s doctor know if your child has had a reaction to antibiotics in the past.

Sometimes a rash will occur during the time a child is taking an antibiotic. However, not all rashes are considered allergic reactions. Tell your child’s doctor if you see a rash that looks like hives (red welts); this may be an allergic reaction. If your child has an allergic reaction that causes an itchy rash, or hives, this will be noted in her medical record.

4) How long does it take an antibiotic to work?

Most bacterial infections improve within 48 to 72 hours of starting an antibiotic. If your child’s symptoms get worse or do not improve within 72 hours, call your child’s doctor. If your child stops taking the antibiotic too soon, the infection may not be treated completely and the symptoms may start again

5) How can I use antibiotics safely?

• Give the medicine exactly as directed.
• Don’t use one child’s antibiotic for a sibling or friend; you may give the wrong medicine and cause harm.
• Keep antibiotics and other prescription medicine in a secure place. Count and monitor the number of pills you have and lock them up. Ask your friends, family members, and babysitters to do the same.
• Dispose leftover antibiotics and other prescription medication. Return leftover prescriptions to a hospital, doctor’s office, or pharmacy. Many counties now offer “take-back” events to collect unused medication.

IMPORTANT:

Read the leaflet carefully. You will get information on the dosage (you will get it also from a doctor who may recommend a slightly different dosage) and find out what symptoms require medical consultation. During the appointment, ask your pediatrician how you can prevent or react to side effects so that to help your child to go smoothly through the antibiotic therapy.