Have you given your children antibiotics and if so what for?

[Liveandletlive01]

Out of interest: have you ever given your children antibiotics? What was it that pushed you to that decision? Do you think your child could have gone without them?

My DD has had them twice for ear infections. I have her to them as what is what the GP advised and yeah she definitely needed them she was in agony. Why do you ask OP?

For a UTI; he was having several accidents a day and it was painful every time. He needed them.

Antibiotics when necessary are fine. Antibiotics handed out likes sweeties for colds and just “I’ve got a sore throat” are not ok. I studied biomedical sciences, and this is a big part of it.

Stopping antibiotic use completely simply leaves us in the situation where easily treated infections spread, get worse and cause death. Which is the situation we will be in with widespread resistance. We don’t want either.

Don’t refuse their use when needed, but don’t ask for them just because your kid feels a bit ill.

What do you mean 'pushed you'? I'm pretty hiopy about a lot of things, but when my baby had a serious staph infection I thanked the lord and Alexander Fleming for penicillin.

Antibiotics are over-demanded and probably over-prescribed, but they are literally life saving too.

Yes, once when some of his eczema became infected (antibiotic cream), once when he had a chest infection and once when he had impetigo. What pushed me in into giving my ds antibiotics? The fact that he had infections that required them. Why wouldn't I?

Huh? The doctor decides whether they need antibiotics or not - I am not a medical professional.

Yes. Prophylactic from 3 weeks old till 5 and extra oral courses for neumourous infections/ exacerbations over the years. Several course of 2 weeks of IV antibiotics pretty much 3 times a year for a good few years. Currently on two different prophylactic antibiotics and will probably be on them for life. He is 14
He has Cystic Fibrosis and would be very ill without them.

Yes. For infections (their intended use). Based on doctor’s advice (because that’s the point of doctor’s advice, that you follow it).

Ds had them when he was 5 for cellulitis on his head. They saved his life.

Mine had antibiotics as soon as he was born as a precaution as his heart rate was very high during labour and it took 3 days to rule out an infection. He is taking another round now (at almost 2 years old) for a bacterial chest infection. Agree with the PP - I didn’t decide he’d take them, a doctor did!

What "pushed" me into it: days of fever, delirium, pain, misery, watching my child sinking as the infection was getting worse. Antibiotics prescribed and child started recovery within 24 hours. Clincher was the doctor saying "the swab shows a bacterial infection" which confirmed we were doing the right thing.

What do you mean “given”? As in, not on the advice of an HCP?

Neither of mine have had to have them but I’d always go with the GP’s views.

Yes, both of them at birth for a week due to birth related infections. I wasn't pushed into it, they needed them. I wouldn't ever ask a doctor for antibiotics, but I would happily give them if they were needed.

I think that GPs are over worked and do not have enough time to talk through why antibiotics may or may not be the right course of action. Also I think that they do not dare, in too many cases, to suggest watch and wait. Or educate on other available treatments.

Yes, chest infection and a UTI but didn't give the drops for conjunctivitis- all three times were under a doctor's advice.

Preventing antibiotic resistance is about only using them when they are necessary.

My three, now in their 20s, had antibiotics as small children once or twice each for ear infections. That's all.

Normal people don't just give their child antibiotics, they are prescribed by a doctor and it's a really bad idea to withhold medication a doctor has decided your child needs, it could kill them!

Several very bad bouts of tonsillitis and one ear infection

My dd had antibiotics for a foot infection. Her whole foot was swollen black and blue, it was hideous. Without antibiotics she would have lost her foot, possibly her life.

Ear infection
Tonsillitis

Nothing pushed the decisions; I wasn't at all reluctant for them to be given antibiotics. I can only assume my children shouldn't have gone without them, in the sense that they'd have been unwell for longer/more unwell, rather than they'd have died without them.

DD had them recently for a chest infection. The GP said to come back in 48hrs if she wasn't improving. If the GP prescribes them then we take them because they are needed. No pushing involved.

Twice. DD is 2. One for an ear infection and one for a chest infection.

I understand the consequences of resistance and don’t often go to the doctor.

What pushed me? Ear infection was her waking every hour screaming and being hard to settle, she was clearly in pain. Chest infection was when her feet turned blue as her body was concentrating on her trunk.

I try to give her body time to fight them off but sometimes they need that extra help.

Yes for Scarlet fever. She took them because they are recommended and were prescribed and I wouldn’t have dreamt of seeing if she could ‘gone without them’

Dd2, for scarlet fever. Think that's it.

Sorry, I'll add, to what I previously posted, I mean in the UK. Antibiotics are available in other countries without prescription!

I think you haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.
Yes I’ve had them for my children, in one case they saved his life