Antibiotics

When are antibiotics helpful?

Antibiotics are helpful in killing bacteria. There are many types of organisms which make children sick. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and fungus. A large majority of illnesses in children are caused by viruses. In these cases, antibiotics unfortunately are not helpful. Viruses are organisms which fortunately will eventually die off without medication. The problem is that there are not good medications that will help to accelerate this process. There are anti-fungal medications available which are readily used when a fungus is thought to be the cause of the illness.

Can antibiotics hurt my child?

In the short run, no. In general if an antibiotic is started and the infection is indeed viral, there are rarely adverse affects from starting the medication. Occasionally there can be a rash.

If antibiotics do not hurt people, then why don't we at least try them in situations even though we think the illness is probably viral?

In a word... Resistance. Antibiotic resistance has become a major problem in modern medicine. Increasing numbers of bacteria that could once be killed with antibiotics are now becoming resistant (no longer being killed). It is thought that overuse of antibiotics plays a major role in the development of this resistance. By exposing children (or adults for that matter) to antibiotics that are unnecessary, bacteria that are present in the community "get an extra look" at the antibiotic and can work on ways to survive. The more that bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, the "smarter" they become. The concern is that bacteria will continue to become more resistant, while few new antibiotics are being invented. Theoretically, there will be a day when we are unable to treat bacterial infections. This would be catastrophic, as these resistant bacteria would run unchecked.

Antibiotics are good medicines when used judiciously. In countries where antibiotics are available without prescriptions, the above theory is already becoming reality. By saving antibiotics for situations where they are truly needed, and where they are known to be helpful, they will be useful to us long into the future.

JDMD 1/9/01