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Is Frequent Usage Of Antibiotics Safe In An Infant?
Question: my 9 month old daughter is suffering from back to back cold for the third time now...... she gets cold, we give her antibiotics and she gets well. but catches cold again within a week. this is the third time in a row now. should i continue to give her antibiotics or let the cold run it's course?? will too much antibiotics make her non reactive to medicine?
Brief Answer:
You are right - antibiotic resistance is a serious problem
Detailed Answer:
Hi...You are right - antibiotic resistance is a serious problem. Please do not use antibiotics time and again.
Cough and cold are viral 95% of the times in children. They do not require antibiotics at all. In fact unnecessary usage of antibiotics will result in antibiotic resistance.
For cold you can use anti-allergics like cetirizine and for nose block, saline nasal decongestants will do.
If there is fever - Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (max ceiling dose 500mg) every 4-6th hourly, that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.
For cold you can use Cetrizine at 0.25mg/kg/dose every 12 hourly for 3 days.
For nasal block, plain saline nasal drops will do, every 4-6th hourly to relive nasal congestion.
But I have a few questions for you - please get back to me with answers.
Questions:
1. How many days per month does she cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does her sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does she feel breathless when she plays around?
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
You are right - antibiotic resistance is a serious problem
Detailed Answer:
Hi...You are right - antibiotic resistance is a serious problem. Please do not use antibiotics time and again.
Cough and cold are viral 95% of the times in children. They do not require antibiotics at all. In fact unnecessary usage of antibiotics will result in antibiotic resistance.
For cold you can use anti-allergics like cetirizine and for nose block, saline nasal decongestants will do.
If there is fever - Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (max ceiling dose 500mg) every 4-6th hourly, that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.
For cold you can use Cetrizine at 0.25mg/kg/dose every 12 hourly for 3 days.
For nasal block, plain saline nasal drops will do, every 4-6th hourly to relive nasal congestion.
But I have a few questions for you - please get back to me with answers.
Questions:
1. How many days per month does she cough or feel breathless?
2. How many nights per month does her sleep get disturbed due to above symptoms?
3. Does she feel breathless when she plays around?
4. Are the symptoms when there are seasonal changes?
5. Is there any family history of asthma or any other sort of allergies like skin allergy etc.?
6. Is the cough always associated with fever?
Regards - Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your advice Dr.
1. she has no cough, only running nose. she doesn't feel breathless.
2. she mostly sleeps throughout the night and wakes up only once for feed. i have a bit of cold now and feed her once at night. could that cause cold in her?
3. no breathlessness while playing around.
4. yes.. we are in XXXXXXX and she catches a cold when the temperature drops.
5. no family history of asthma. her grandma, dad and me have dry skin. no major skin allergies as such.
6. no... mostly no cough or fever....
1. she has no cough, only running nose. she doesn't feel breathless.
2. she mostly sleeps throughout the night and wakes up only once for feed. i have a bit of cold now and feed her once at night. could that cause cold in her?
3. no breathlessness while playing around.
4. yes.. we are in XXXXXXX and she catches a cold when the temperature drops.
5. no family history of asthma. her grandma, dad and me have dry skin. no major skin allergies as such.
6. no... mostly no cough or fever....
Brief Answer:
Looks like recurrent seasonal cold only - no need for antbiotics
Detailed Answer:
Hi... Thank you for the information and I had asked for more information to check if she had any wheezing. But now I am confident that it is only seasonal cold and not wheezing.
No need for antibiotics - please follow only the medications I have advised.
I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help.
You can approach me at the following link.
Once the page opens there will be an option below my image as – ASK ME A QUESTION – click on it.
Please find the link below -
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Looks like recurrent seasonal cold only - no need for antbiotics
Detailed Answer:
Hi... Thank you for the information and I had asked for more information to check if she had any wheezing. But now I am confident that it is only seasonal cold and not wheezing.
No need for antibiotics - please follow only the medications I have advised.
I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help.
You can approach me at the following link.
Once the page opens there will be an option below my image as – ASK ME A QUESTION – click on it.
Please find the link below -
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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