avoiding antibiotics

[ninja]

I want to ask this before I need the information IYSWIM!

As far as I see it antibiotics are for life threatening illnesses and overused can damage the immune system. There have been times where I have used them (didn't want too much time off work etc) but usually I just avoid them and let illness run it's course.

The problem is how do I make this choice for DD? She's 6 months now so I anticipate that at some point she'll have to go to the doctors and they'll suggest antibiotics. What are they REALLY necessary for? Are there alternatives?

I just want to be aware of my options before I'm put in this situation.

Thanks for any help

ninja I am having this prob, dd has glandular fever (with me) and has ear and throat infection. Am reluctantly giving her antibiotics, I did question it when the doc gave to her but she said she thought it was necessary and she is usually quite anti these things. I think you just have to wait until the situation arises and make a judgement then.

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My ds (9 months) has just been given them today. I got 4 opinions (2 consultants a GP and a registrar)before proceeding and then insisted it was done in a hospital environment in case he was allergic (he is allergic to a lot of things). The antibiotics were for infected eczema. Like other posters have said you will know when they are necessary. Give probiotics to counter any problems with the gut, and then you will at least feel you are doing something for the side effects.

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In my experience some doctors prescribe antibiotics too quickly, but most doctors I have come across have been quite sensible about it. I also think you will know when it is necessary to give antibiotics. Bascially when your child is really ill, you will try everything to make her better! DD recently had a very bad chest infection and the doctor prescribed antibiotic. There was no doubt in my mind whether to give it to her or not. The infection luckily cleared up after a couple of days

HI Ninja: I am very adverse to using anti-biotics, too. For me, it comes down to whether the condition is likely to clear by itself, and how much discomfort my child is in. Most mild infections will clear up by themselves in 5-9 days, anyway. If they are only a bit poorly and any pain can be held off with Calpol, than it will probably be a mild case that is going to clear by itself.

I have found this is especially true with conjunctivitus. Just wait it out, don't touch it! Although splashing in the bath is usually an ok way to clean it, and don't hesitate to give Calpol for the irritation because the eyes do hurt, and Calpol is usually effective enough. It looks awful in the meantime, but I have had the experience and so have my friends who aren't even anti-antiBs, but just got fed up with going to the doctor we all find that bacterial conjunctivius seems to clear by itself in 5-8 days. Viral conjunctivitus (pink-eye without the discharge) you just have to wait out, no treatment for it but painkillers.

Ear infections: again, if it's mild and Calpol is effective, I would wait it out. But I wouldn't hesitate to give anti-Bs if the Calpol isn't effective because to be honest, ear infections can HURT. That said, most ear infections are viral and mild and will clear up by themselves.

The same for coughs and colds, and even things like sinus infections -- they will usually clear by themselves.

And personally I immunise; DH had pneumonia from HiB and as anti-anti-biotics as we are, they (4 different lots, actually ) were the only way to get DH better. But even though I had HIb mildly, and DH had it severely, DS was completely ok, probably because he had been immunised.

The only times my kids have had anti-Biotics was in eye drops -- twice for conjunctivitus, before I became brave enough to just try waiting it out.

I hope you're breastfeeding and want to continue; extended breastfeeding reduces the frequency with which anti-Bs are prescribed in later life. But it's genetic & luck, too. Letting your kids be exposed to household dirt is also thought to be protective.

For ear infections, try to put a little bit of olive oil on some cotton wool and put it in the ear. It really works! Even doctors recommend it!

I'm really worried about the amount of antibiotics my son has had. My g.p seems to give them out for everything. My son does have a low immune system (lower than normal antibodies) and everytime he gets a cold it goes on his chest, he sounds terrible, i take him to the doctor and hey presto another course of antibiotics. He has just started school in september and has had anti-b's 3 times already! Maybe i should just avoid the doctor and see if it goes on it's own.

my question is, For a bad chest when do you take them to the doc? If there is no temperature does this mean there isn't an infection?

Linzoid, I would take them to the doctor every time it gets on the chest. It is so easily for them to develop bronchitis and pneumonia (My DD has had both) and this can get quite scary. I am generally not very trusting of doctors. I think they prescribe antibiotics too easily, but I have found one doctor who I really trust and feel happy with. I think you should take your child to the doctor when it gets on his chest, but make sure you are happy with the treatment and advise you get. It took me some time to find a doctor I was happy with, but I was ruthless about it and changed GP a few times. I know this is difficult to do, but for me it was so important to feel happy with my GP!

I guess if were me, Linzoid, I would try to wait it out next time but that said, this is a bad time of year to try waiting it out. Moreover, your child isn't 'average' if he has a weak immune system. You have good grounds to take less chances than average.

Could you try to teach him to wash his hands more often? That's supposed to be the best way to avoid cold bugs, anyway. My son doesn't wash hands well, btw, so I know it's easier said than done.

Personally, yes, I think temperatures usually accompany bacterial infections; but when DH had HIb pneumonia he didn't have a temp, just an awful non-stop cough (which our local GP diagnosed as asthma... ARRRRRGGGHHH!).

Thanks folks - some good advice here. I guess I will know when she is really ill, but it's good to know if there are options. Having suffered a lot from tonsillitus myself as a child I'm getting myself prepared for that - and I know that goes away with time, yet if I do go to the doctors with it they always insist that antibiotics are essential (my tonsils are usually touching at this point)

I don't think that doctors are all enemies, but sometimes it helps to have your own preferences sorted out.

Bobthebaby - the probiotics are a good idea, I'll get some in.

RobinW where do I get xylitol? She does already have teeth, but I'll try the toothpaste or granules - thanks

Zebra I am BF exclusively to nearly 6 months (didn't quite make it ) but still intend to do so as long as poss, and I agree about dirt - it seems ridiculous to be too protective there (gives me a good excuse not to be obsesive with the cleaning - as if I would)

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Ninja,

I doubt the doctor will suggest that she has antibiotics (unless she really needs them). In my experience of doctors they are as informed about misuse of antibiotics as you are and are quite 'crusading' about it.

I'm totally for the sparing use of antibiotics, but had to plead with a doctor for antiobiotics for myself after a chest infection lasted 9 weeks and I was still coughing up green phlegm (i.e. this indicates bacterial infection rather than viral infection)

So basically if a doctor recommends antibiotics I think the patient really needs it - they don't prescribe lightly

Just wanted to clrify some points about antibiotics. Sorry if I'm repeating what others have posted, I'm at work and have limited time!

Antibiotics are for Bacterial infections ONLY. They have no effect on viral infections such as the common cold, flu. Quite alot of throat infections are viral.

The problem with overprescribing is that GP's used to prescribe them willynilly without knowing whether it was a virus or bacterial infection. This has led to strains of dramatically named "superbugs" which, due to over exposure to these common antibiotics, have become resistant to them.

I don't beleive that Anti-B's actually deplete your immune system, it's not an individual thing. These bacteria are developing resistance all over the world.

I agree that perhaps 6 out 10 minor infections will clear up on their own and we need to give our immune systems the chance to do what it is there for.

However, in this day in age our lives are SO busy that you just want things cleared up quickly so you can: get back to work, look after the kids, build a house, take over the world.. etc etc....
It's very 'convenient' to get a 5 day course of pills which clear it up entirely rather than waiting perhaps 7-10 days for our bodies to do that for us. Another downfall to our busy lives these days!

There, back to work now.