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216-844-8447 216-844-Rainbow Appointments 216-844-3911 Patient Info
11100 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106
Keeping your child healthy is a big job! Read all about common childhood aches, pains, and illnesses, plus how to take care of your child's body from teeth to toes.
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Every year, your family probably faces its share of flus. When you bring your child to the doctor for these illnesses, do you automatically expect a prescription for antibiotics?
Many parents do. And they're surprised, maybe even angry, if they leave the doctor's office empty-handed - after all, what parent doesn't want their kid to get well as quickly as possible? But your child's doctor could be doing you and your child a favor by not reaching for the prescription pad.
Antibiotics, first used in the 1940s, are certainly one of the great advances in medicine. But overprescribing them has resulted in the development of bacteria that don't respond to antibiotics that may have worked in the past. Plus, a child who takes antibiotics when it isn't necessary runs the unnecessary risk of adverse reactions, such as stomach upset and diarrhea.
To understand how antibiotics work, you have to understand the two types of Bacteria are living organisms existing as single cells. Bacteria are everywhere and most don't cause any harm, and in some cases may be beneficial. Lactobacillus, for example, live in the intestine and help digest food. But some bacteria are harmful and can cause illness by invading the human body, multiplying, and interfering with normal bodily processes. Antibiotics are effective against bacteria because they work to kill these living organisms by stopping their growth and reproduction. Viruses, on the other hand, are not alive and cannot exist on their own - they are particles containing genetic material wrapped in a protein coat. Viruses "live," grow, and reproduce only after they've invaded other living cells. Some viruses may be fought off by the body's own immune system before they cause illness, but others (colds, flu, and pneumonia, meningitis), skin infections, and Treat only bacterial infections. Seek advice and ask questions. Letting milder illnesses (especially those thought to be caused by viruses) run their course to avoid the development of drug-resistant germs may be a good idea - but it's still best to leave what constitutes a "mild illness" up to your child's doctor. Even if your child's symptoms don't worsen, but continue to linger, be on the safe side and have him or her checked out. At the office, ask questions about whether your child's illness is bacterial or viral, and discuss the risks and benefits of antibiotics. If it's a virus, don't pressure your doctor to prescribe anyway. Ask your doctor about ways to treat symptoms. Use antibiotics as prescribed. Don't save antibiotics for next time. Never use another person's prescription. Ask your child's doctor about ways to treat the symptoms that are making your child uncomfortable, such as a stuffy nose or scratchy throat, without the use of antibiotics. The key to building a good relationship with your child's doctor is open hand washing, make sure your child is up to date on Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2005
Ask your child's doctor about ways to treat the symptoms that are making your child uncomfortable, such as a stuffy nose or scratchy throat, without the use of antibiotics. The key to building a good relationship with your child's doctor is open hand washing, make sure your child is up to date on Mary L. Gavin, MD Date reviewed: July 2005