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Original poster

is anyone else against antibiotics?

47 replies

queenballerina · 14/01/2011 22:05

I got sick a lot when I was a kid and seemed to always have antibiotics.. always felt that I was building a tolerance, and now seem to have chronic sinus infections..

Now that I have a baby I am feeling really against it. Like I never want her to take them.

Just found out she has mild pneumonia and they have given her a heavy dose. Its her first time and I am really upset about it.

Does anyone else feel this way?
What are the alternatives?

OP posts:
truffleshuffle · 14/01/2011 22:07
Hmm
MsHighwater · 14/01/2011 22:10

Em, being ill?

I don't really mean to be flippant but my vague impresssion is that (generally and not meaning you particularly) part of the problem with antibiotics is misuse (e.g. not finishing the course) as well as over-prescription. If you are anxious about whether it is necessary, ask you GP if there is an acceptable alternative. Surely there is a balance to be struck?

longdarktunnel · 14/01/2011 22:12

Nope. They saved my son's life twice.

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/01/2011 22:14

Your baby has pneumonia.

Do you want her to suffer?

meltedmarsbars · 14/01/2011 22:15

Saved my dd2's life too.

And perhaps yours, OP?

Guadalupe · 14/01/2011 22:16

Well, it depends on what is wrong, surely?

Obviously unnecessary overuse is not good but when they are needed they save lives and well, make you better.

winnybella · 14/01/2011 22:16

Nothing wrong with ABs when used properly i.e. not for every sniffle.

They save lives.

It would be incredibly stupid of you to oppose to the use of them when your baby has pneumonia.

Save useless homeopathic stuff for when she has a bit of a runny nose.

onimolap · 14/01/2011 22:17

Pneumonia if left untreated is potentially very serious.

There is a case for saying antibiotics are sometimes overused for every cough and sniffle, but that's just not the case for pneumonia.

Itsjustafleshwound · 14/01/2011 22:17

IIRC - Antibiotics treat bacterial infections - they have to be taken in their entirety and usually with some probiotic (or prebiotic) - they are useless against viral infections.

Taking anything has risks attached

winnybella · 14/01/2011 22:17

And for a serious bacterial infections there are no alternatives.

Unless you want to die, of course Hmm

winnybella · 14/01/2011 22:18

a

Original poster
queenballerina · 14/01/2011 22:20

of course in this case they are necessary.

I just mean to start a discussion as to when is too much..

asian friends of my husband told me they never used antibiotics and only natural remedies and claim their 4 kids are never sick as adults...

just wondering other peoples thoughs on antibiotics

OP posts:
ScarlettWalking · 14/01/2011 22:22

Omg your baby has pneumonia I'm so sorry that is awful. I see your point. Dd has had more courses than I have in my whole 30 years but my mum used to ride things out and was lucky with us being v strong. I honestly think they leave her very weak but have undoubtedly helped with the primary infection.

I really hope your baby picks up. Needless to say is is vital she takes them.

sinpan · 14/01/2011 22:23

If she has pneumonia she needs antibiotics. The only alternative is to do nothing and risk her getting worse. Hope she gets better soon

Sirzy · 14/01/2011 22:27

I dont think they are given out as freely as they used to be tbh.

Often if in doubt things are treated as viral then abtibiotics later - normally accompanied by parents complaining they weren't given sooner.

Whenever Ds has had them he has needed them and I would have never considered going against the hospitals advice. Twice he had serious chest infections the first time it was given to prevent him getting pneumonia as he couldnt have fought it.

gettingtogrips · 14/01/2011 22:27

Antibiotics usually affect the replication of bacteria, helping the host (you) to fight the infection. They do not affect immunity

Pancakeflipper · 14/01/2011 22:28

I have a love/hate relationship with them. I hate them , sadly the medical problem I have means I end up taking them several times a year at least. I dread it cos' they drag me down so badly. I have to take a good pro-biotic ( not something in a sugary little drink).

My eldest son has never had them. My youngest had them twice. They saved him much distress and stopped him getting sicker to a life or death situation so bravo.

I know they are brilliant. A necessary evil.

ScarlettWalking · 14/01/2011 22:30

What said may not have made full sense. My mum was v against AB. But I feel she was lucky I was able to fight off my childhood infections without them. I had some shocking fevers.

I am v strong now and rarely ill but I won't really know if it's just co incidence.

sausagerolemodel · 14/01/2011 22:31

Hey Queen,

I don't think there is any evidence to support the notion that an individual can become tolerant to an antibiotic in a lifetime and that this results in chronic sinus infection.

As someone has said the problem with antibiotics is the general misuse - i.e. people taking them for the slightest little sniffle, which will normally be viral and not affected by ABs anyway.

Pneumonia is usually caused by bacterial and can be extremely serious, especially in LOs which is why they have given her a whacking dose.

Antibiotics were the first mass-produced natural remedy for infection. Although some are synthetically manufactured now, they all came from nature to begin with (from mould cultures), so you have nothing to fear from them.

ScarlettWalking · 14/01/2011 22:33

They also affect the replication of good bacteria, which leaves you v vulnerable to catching something else after the course.

BelleDameSansMerci · 14/01/2011 22:33

I think they're bloody amazing. They have saved lives and made some very serious illnesses almost negligible.

activate · 14/01/2011 22:33

pneumonia can kill her without antibiotics you stupid woman

DS3 had pneumonia as a baby and I was eternally grateful for the IV antibiotics

doggytreats · 14/01/2011 22:33

Antibiotics are over used sometimes as in many cases what they are given for isn't a bacterial infection but a viral one and so they're useless but without giving everyone a bloodtest when they present at the docs it can be hard to tell the difference. My son has been on a prophylactic dose of anti-biotics since birth to try and protect him and his kidneys from bladder infections and has needed strong IV antibiotics 16 times - including for E-Coli Septacaemia (DS4 who's 7).

Antibiotics are one of the marvels of the modern age which shouldn't be abused but used correctly they are wonderful. People in more underdeveloped countries still die/go blind etc from simple infections due to lack of availability of antibiotic drugs - I think we have forgotten how lucky we are.

I really hope your baby gets better soon. Smile

DilysPrice · 14/01/2011 22:36

I do think that doctors used to hand them out too readily, but the tide has turned and you are now unlikely to get them unless you need them.

I suspect (with very little medical evidence) that the years of daily antibios I took for my acne as a teenager are connected with my host of ear/chest/eye infections as an adult, but I would never let that put me off giving the DCs anitibiotics where the doctor genuinely thought it necessary.

Normantebbit · 14/01/2011 22:38

I don't know what else could have been done when DD1 was born with meningitis. She had ABs intravenously every 12 hours for two weeks. They saved her life.

I am very grateful for them and you should be too.

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