Antibiotics for children with cough and cold

Cough and runny nose - just look in the children's polyclinic during the high season of colds and viral diseases. The incessant "symphony" of wet and dry cough and a lot of small snotty noses - unfortunately, babies are especially prone to such ailments. And the most sad thing is, mothers do not always manage to cure babies without antibiotics. Today we will talk about when to give antibiotics to a child with a cough and runny nose, or rather, when this measure is justified, and when it is worth refraining.

Antibiotics for severe cough in children

A strong, debilitating cough in a baby, many mothers will find it necessary to resort to antibiotic therapy. However, this is not always appropriate. For example, when a cough is accompanied by a temperature that lasts no more than 3 days, redness in the throat, runny nose and general malaise, hasty measures in the form of antibiotics can only harm. The fact is that such symptoms most often indicate a viral etiology of the disease, and as is known, antibacterial drugs are powerless against viruses. If the patient's condition worsens: the temperature does not fall, there is weakness, dyspnea, breathing becomes difficult, then there is reason to believe that the bacterial process in the respiratory system has begun: bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis. That is, with a strong cough in children, antibiotics are prescribed only if other symptoms characteristic of bacterial attachment are present. Here is the main list of antibiotics for children with cough:

1. Penicillins. Preparations of this group (Augmentin, Amoxilav, Flemoxin) are often used as emergency first aid. They have a fairly wide spectrum of action and a minimum of side effects. It is worth remembering that penicillins will not have the proper effect in case of pneumonia.
2. Cephalosporins. Stronger drugs (Cefuroxime, Cefix, Cefazolin) are prescribed when secondary therapy is necessary (for example, if a child has already taken antibiotics a couple of months or the penicillin group drugs did not fit him).
3. Macrolides. This is a kind of heavy artillery, which is used for inflammation of the respiratory tract (Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Sumamed).
4. In exceptional cases, fluoroquinolones are administered to children .

If the cough does not go away after taking antibiotics, it can be assumed that the baby has been incorrectly picked up by the drug. Also in some cases, the development of an allergic reaction is likely.

It is worth remembering that antibiotics for children with cough and runny nose should be prescribed only by a doctor, ideally it should be done after the sputum is sown and the pathogen is determined. But since this takes a fairly long time, in most cases, pediatricians prescribe systemic drugs of a broad spectrum of action, given the child's age, weight and probable pathogen.

Antibiotics for a child's cold

Strangely enough, but a common cold can also be the reason for taking antibacterial drugs. Of course, if the runny nose is only one of the symptoms of a disease caused by bacteria, there is no doubt about the need for therapy. But when rhinitis occurs as an independent disease, many mothers, and even doctors, doubt the need for such treatment.

In general, antibiotics for a cold in a child are prescribed in the case of:

• development of the chronic form of rhinitis;
• spread of inflammation to the nasal sinuses;
• the appearance of green precipitates.

Most often for the treatment of children, drops or sprays are used from the rhinitis with an antibiotic. They have a local effect, relieve inflammation in the nasal sinuses, destroying the bacteria it provoked.

In conclusion, it is worth noting, before giving antibiotics to children with a cold and cough, you need to thoroughly weigh all the pros and cons. In addition to its main purpose, such drugs adversely affect the biocenosis of the body as a whole, making it susceptible and vulnerable, especially at first.