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?

Our son had ten lots in 12 months, all for serious ear infections which wouldn’t clear. He then had grommets fitted (aged 22 months) and he hasn’t (yet) had any more problems. Nothing ‘pushed me’ to the decision. It was the GP/A and E doctors who prescribed them.

Yes, because we were going through court and ex got the guardian to tell me I was neglecting DD by refusing to get the GP to prescribe them, even though it was not indicated by NICE guidelines and I am a medical professional myself.

As the doctor's prescribed I will, and it depends on what infections does need to be cured.

Not pushed in the slightest, but DS has had several rounds of antibiotics for severe chest infections, and topical antibiotics for orbital cellulitis. He needed them so I gave them to him.

Whilst reducing some of the antibiotics prescribed in Europe would slow down antibiotic resistance spread, it isnt going to make much difference while the doctors here (Saudi) hand out antibiotics every time you visit them. They literally dish them out like sweets. Until recently, I could also walk into the pharmacy, and get them over the counter. It is this level of antibiotic abuse that needs seriously reducing. We look at the prescribed meds uf the kids need to go to the doctor, and decide what we are going to give. For example, DS came out in whole body hives. Took him to A&E when they hit his face and eyes. Came home with 5 bottles of stuff (steroids*3, antihistamine, some topical stuff). This level of prescribing needs reducing!

Yes, both my kids have had antibiotics. The last set was about 3 years ago, when ds fell and ended up with a dozen stitches in his mouth. Those were preventative. I always doubt if we should have given them.

Yes, for tonsillitis. Used to get it badly, a couple of times nearly a quinsy.

Severe eczema and after one day hair started growing and skin improved

Chest infection whilst on oxygen in hospital when croup had been missed after several dr appointments life saving

General chest infections

My thoughts are why question medicines when some countries don't have rhe option or availability

At 17 months old, DS spent 9 days on IV antibiotics in hospital, and was then discharged with a 2 week course of oral flucloaxiline (sp?). He had septic arthritis.

He’s also had them for an ear infection and conjunctivitis. DD has had 1 course of ABs ever, for Scarlet Fever. My dc have a collective age of 17, during which time they have been prescribed ABs 4 times. Doesnt really seem excessive!

DD is 16 weeks and has had antibiotics twice. Once on the day and born as she became very unwell so they started treating her for sepsis. She didn't have sepsis in the end but they didn't have time to watch and wait, she was dying so they started the course as a precaution. This was stopped when the cultures all came back as negative.

She had a second round of antibiotics 2 weeks ago for a nasty infection in her birth mark. Strawberry marks are vascular so infections are dangerous and quickly ulcerate. Antibiotic creams were tried first but weren't working.

The watch and wait approach can work for adults and teenagers but with children, particularly babies, GPs do and should air on the side of caution. Children often appear much better than they actually are until they are gravely ill.

I should add that I disagree with adults trying to obtain antibiotics for colds etc and feel that is the real issue of antibiotic overuse which GPs are much more aware of. Your post has a slightly shitty 'we know better' approach and smacks of someone who has never had to watch their child fight for their life.

What a stupidly worded OP.

'GPs are overworked and don't have enough time to talk things through'. Our GPs have always been first class, yes, we know they are stretched but stretched and professional.

They don't dish out antibiotics as a line of first defence either. When DD had what turned out to be a very severe case of tonsillitis recently our GP insisted on seeing her every day for five days before giving her antibiotics on day four.

But yes, lots of antibiotics, sepsis, heart surgery, pneumonia, kidney infection, tonsillitis - without them she would not be here.

someone who has never had to watch their child fight for their life

This exactly.

Yes tonsillitis.

We watched and waited for the first week as it seemed like a common cold. But a consistent fever of 40 over 7 days with nothing breaking it we booked an out of hours appointment and got antibiotics for both kids.

Strangely the first course didn't end it for DS so had a second course as he developed an ear infection.

DH's dad was a doctor (retired), his brother is a doctor... his grandfather was a doctor... his mum was a nurse. In speaking with them and other doctors I've never heard one prescribe something that was not necessary.

Considering most viral illnesses usually break the fever with a rash at about the 5th day... I think my GP was correct even the second time around as it was clearly a secondary infection from his throat.

Antibiotic resistance is largely caused by farmers OP. GPs have strict guidelines and know how antibiotics work. Famers bung it in all feed to protect entire herds, regardless of whether they are sick, all over the world.

4 year old was on them for 5 days from birth as she was in neonatal with a possible infection resulting in breathing difficulties. She’s since been on them twice for ear infections/tonsillitis. Wouldn’t hesitate to give her them again if that’s what medical professionals are saying she needs

Sadly I agree that no what what best practice NHS does, we're all screwed b/c antiBs are handed out easily in rest of world (argh).

I learnt we could get thru conjunctivitis without antiBs. Learnt this from friends who had done it & turned out to be pretty manageable.

Oral antiBs for UTIs, ear infections, infected toe, infected finger, tonsillitis (including a bout of quinsy).

Topical antiBs for acne.

Except UTI, only after the kids had symptoms for 3-9 days (or many months for the acne) & were not getting better.

Ds wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for antibiotics. On more than one occasion.

For the last year he has taken one three times a week and as a result has only had one chest infection in the year rather than the 5 or more he has had every other year of
His life

Nope. Never had to take them to the GP outside of jabs/6 week checks though.

DD was on antibiotics from the moment she was born as she swallowed meconium on the way out.

She’s had them a couple of other times, can’t remember what for.

I don’t think the majority of GPs give them out unnecessarily. All their prescribing is monitored, and if they are giving out more antibiotics than the average then this is highlighted to them.

DS1 had them when little for a cheat infection and aged 6 for scarlet fever.

DS2 had them at birth as a precaution because he was struggling to breathe and they couldn't rule out infection until the cultures came back. He was allowed to stop them on day 5 because they couldn't find a spare vein to reroute the drip :(

I don't think doctors prescribing them for children is the cause of the problem, it is people demanding them for themselves and stockpiling them etc.

DD has had 2 rounds - once for infection at birth and the second for infected eczema. Both times when she was in hospital as a last resort. My brother is really allergic so I have never had them and my ds has never had them... Just in case. If either of us was in a life threatening situation like DD or others on his thread I would use them under close supervision. However we have both managed to get through sore throats and and infections without using them.

Ds(14) has only had anti-bs 3 times

1. hospitalised with bronchiolitis at 18 months
2. urine infection at 7 yrs old
3. huge infected blister/bite on arm at 11 yrs old (two types at same time)

DS has had antibiotics probably a dozen times in 2 years.

Mostly for tonsillitis.
Twice for chest infections.
Once for cellulitis.
Once or twice for an ear infection.

I admit- have pushed for my son to have antibiotics- when he developed chronic tonsillitis, and had fevers spiking 40 on and off for a week. I was refused.
That night he ended up in a&e with early signs of sepsis.

That tonsillitis then took 4 months, a visit to a private ENT surgeon, and an extraordinary number of different ABs (due to secondary infections) to finally shift.

So frankly, no I don’t think “salt” cuts it sometimes- which is toxic in relatively small amounts to babies in any event.

OP - gps know about antibiotic resistance. They know that lots of patients erroneously see antibiotics as a cure-all. There are posters up in gp surgeries reminding patients that antibiotics won't cure their colds. Why on earth would gps prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily?