Antibiotics prescribed for 3 week old DD...should I give them to her?

[hjscho]

I took DD to see doctor on Monday, as she had a really bad cough. I wanted to check that it was just a cough. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and I said that I didn't want to give them to her. The doctor said to use my common sense and if it hadn't cleared in a couple of days to give it to her. The cough has now changed and I can feel the 'bubbling' as she breaths when I hold her. I am not sure if it has now become a chest infection rather than just a cough. I am SO reluctant to give antibiotics to a 3 week old, but I feel that I may have to give in now, as she has been ill for over a week. I'd appreciate any opinions on this one...

What a long thread and what a lot of advice...thanks for that .
Here is an update; I chose to start the antibiotics for DD on Friday. She now looks so much more healthy (brighter eyes, more alert when awake) and the cough is so much better. I still feel a bit of mucus 'bubbling' on her chest now and again, but it has definitely improved. She does seem more windy though and her poos are more explosive...not sure if it is a consequence of the ABs or not. Thanks for the tip Beachcomber...I will probably look at getting some probiotics and Vit c (for my benefit as well as hers, as my health is pretty poor at the moment too).
Hopefully, by tomorrow the cough will have cleared entirely and she'll be fully on the mend.

Glad to hear she is getting better

Beachcomber - my Russian friend told me that in Russia it is unheard of to perscribe antibiotics without probiotics.

good to hear your DD is improving hjscho.

Hjscho, I hope your wee one continues to improve.

Cazee, I have read that originaly a prescription for antibiotics was always accompanied by a dose of probiotics in the UK too, but due to costs this is no longer done. Glad to hear that that sense prevails in Russia...

Just seen this thread, might be too late but just wanted to stress that once you have started taking the antibiotics, it is VERY important that you finish the course, even if dd is completely recovered. Unfinished courses can lead to antibiotic resistance (I'm not a health professional, but am a microbiologist). Also wanted to say that a viral infection can make the baby susceptible to secondary bacterial infections - it is pretty tricky (if not impossible) to tell what a baby has without actually taking a culture.

Sorry about the explosive poos, probably is down to the antibiotics which can damage the gut flora - ds was prem and had a lot of antibiotics in SCBU, they always produced horrendous nappies! Do hope dd is well again.

advice please...

my 11 week old was diagnosed with whooping cough this morning by the gp. he was prescribed a weeks' worth of antibiotics to "stop the spread" but expect for the cough to continue. during his coughing fits (lasting sometimes over a minute) he cannot catch his breath & turns blue. i told the paramedic (who we saw at the gp) about this but nothing was mentioned about his oxygen or needing to be seen at the children's hospital. now i'm wondering if i should be taking him into hospital?

i don't know if it's worth mentioning but between coughing fits he is still feeding well, plenty of wet nappies, still smiling & cooing away. help 😫