Has anybody had a child/baby who had to take lots and lots of antibiotics? I'm worrying.

[emkana]

Ds has just been prescribed antibiotics again, another chest infection.
I'm so worried, he's been on AB's so many times already in his very young life.
What will it do to him?

how old is he? GP's dont like prescribing AB's unless it's a real emergency, in which case it must of been. Has he had a chest infection before then?

I wouldn't worry too much, I don't think they will do any harm, it's just doctors like a baby or young child to build up their immunity and as we know, AB's can lower our immune systems.

Ds constantly has chest infections, unfortunately.
This is his fifth course of AB's, he's 4 and a half months old!

poor little mite. my DS has eczema and when he was born was constantly getting a skin infection. he was on one antibiotic after another. he's fine and healthy now and his eczema is controlled. he's 14 mths old now.
try not to worry too much.

ds had had quite a lot of abs by 4 months-just pissy stuff like chest infections, thrush etc.

he's 3 now and very healthy!

my ds had loads of courses of antibiotics last year when he was tiny .... i spoke to my mum's nutritionist who prescribed him some probiotics as well as some vitamin and mineral drops to help boost his immune system and give him a fighting chance against the next infection that came along .. and it seemed to do the trick. Not sure what this winter will bring though!

Message withdrawn

One or other (or both) of my DTDs were on triple antibiotic therapy for most, and I mean most, of their first 3 months (they were premmies). They have hardly had them since & don't seem to have been affected in any way.

As others have said the only concern from widespread anti-biotic use in general can lead to resistent bacterial strains. It can also cause an imbalance in gut flora or allow fungal infections l(like thrush) to florish. I wouldn't worry about these too mcuh TBH.

(You might not want to here this but I would be more worried about the long term use of some of his other meds, such as steroids.)

TBH if he needs any of his drugs he needs them and there is not a lot you can do about that without putting his life at risk. With a bit of luck he will get stronger as he grows up & will be less dependent on the meds.

emkana, my dd2 was on full strength antibiotic (erythromycin) for nearly 2 year continuously (from 2-4). It did her no harm (and obviously lots of good). Her immune system has got much better over the past year, and she's only had three courses this year so far, which for her is a personal record.

As SMS has said, if he needs them, he needs them. Hopefully as get grows bigger and stronger his body will not always need the extra assistance.

Em, I've been blasted with a fair few antibiotics in my time (asthma from a very young age, chest infections, a nasty tendency to bronchitis). I'm fairly healthy now (usually).

You're not having the best time right now . I hope things look up for you soon.

Sorry to hear that all is not well with your little boy emkana (I remember your pregnancy threads). My dd1 was on antibiotics three times daily for 6 months due to recurrent urine infections and they don't seem to have had any ill effects. Hope things get better for you soon.
Kate

Emkana, my friend's dd had antibiotics every day of her life from 8 wks until she was a yr old - initially a hefty dose, reduced to a lower one, for a kidney infection and she is now fine at 18 mo.

Hope your little one does okay, poor little guy. I remember one of your other threads about him and have often thought of you.

Sorry you're having a hard time of it Emkana

My dd1 had ear infections and chest infections one after the other when young resulting in loads of antibiotics (she always hated the yellow one, would tolerate the white one but would always ask for the pink one). Friend's dd1 did too (she's about 70% deaf so ear infections were related to this) but both children have little or no enamel on their adult teeth. Not sure if the infections or the antibiotics damaged the adult teeth whilst developing in the gums.

Other than that, both hardly had a day off school in 7 years.

Thanks guys, this is very helpful.
I do so hope that with increasing age things will get better for poor ds.

My DS was on trimethoprim antibiotic from 5 months until 18 months because he had urinay reflux, which thankfully a small operation cured, plus other antibiotics for chest infections/tonsilitis. He is a strapping 9 yr old now and it certainly hasn't done him any harm!!

my ds was on antibiotics for 2yrs since birth for a swollen kidney, think it was trimethoprim(sp) no major problems when he came off them except he would take a lot of colds and viral infections

My ds was forever on a/b's as a child but I don't think they have harmed him at all. It was certainly better than the alternative of a very sick child. I don't know much about resistance but a chemist friend thinks that if the directions are followed properly, esp the one about finishing the course, then resistance is unlikely to develop. Best wishes to you and ds, Emkana.