When Antibiotics are Needed

When Antibiotics Are Needed A guide for parents about common childhood illnesses and symptoms University of Kentucky Department of Communication

Dear Parent: The information in this booklet was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was verified with a pediatrician. It is offered as a way to help you understand what illness your child may have when he or she is experiencing common symptoms of a cold, the flu, or other upper respiratory illness. It is not intended to provide a definitive diagnosis. If you are concerned that your child might be seriously ill, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.

For more information about antibiotics, visit this website: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/ index.html Funding to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of PACE for Parents and Pediatricians was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Directed Source 02054): Harrington NG, Norling GR, Witte F, Taylor JA, Andrews J. The effects of communication skills training on pediatricians’ and parents’ communication during “sick child” visits. Health Communication 2007;21:105-114.

The content in this booklet is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or the University of Kentucky.

When Antibiotics Are Needed A guide for parents about common childhood illnesses and symptoms University of Kentucky Department of Communication

Record of My Child’s Visits to the Doctor Date

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Reason for Visit

Child’s Age

Medication Prescribed

Does Your Child Need an Antibiotic?

Here is a table listing common illnesses and whether or not antibiotics are needed to treat them.

ILLNESS

USUAL CAUSE Virus Bacteria

ANTIBIOTIC NEEDED

Bronchitis

X

No

Cold

X

No

Flu

X

No

Runny Nose

X

No

Fluid in the Middle Ear

X

X

Sometimes

Sinus Infection

X

X

Sometimes

X

Yes

Strep Throat

Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful to your child. Each time we take antibiotics, we become more likely to carry resistant germs in our noses and throats. These resistant germs cannot be killed by common antibiotics. This means that later, if your child really does need antibiotics, she or he may need more costly antibiotics, may need antibiotics given by needle, or may even need to be in the hospital to get antibiotics. For this reason, it is better for your child to take antibiotics only when they are needed.

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Acute Bronchitis Your child has just begun to get over a cold when he or she starts to feel soreness in the chest. In addition, your child develops a cough and chills or a slight fever. Your child probably has acute bronchitis.

What causes acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of parts of the lungs. Common symptoms include a cough that produces yellowish-gray or green mucus, soreness, feelings of tightness or burning in the chest, wheezing, chills, tiredness, and a slight fever. Cigarette smoke or other pollutants may also cause bronchitis.

What should I do?

• The best thing to do is to wait and watch your child.

• Although aspirin is not recommended because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, other over-the-counter pain relievers can help with aches and pains.

• A medicated rubbing ointment can relieve some of the chest tightness.

• If your child’s fever reaches 101.5° F, if your child complains of being breathless or coughs up bloody, yellow, or green mucus, or if symptoms last for more than six weeks, call your doctor.

• Make sure that your child gets plenty of fluids and rest.

• Warm, moist air may help relieve symptoms of acute bronchitis.

Are antibiotics ever needed for acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is a viral infection, so antibiotics are not an effective treatment. Bronchitis should go away without antibiotics.

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Cold Your child begins sneezing and having symptoms such as watery eyes, a cough, a slight fever, and fatigue. Your child has probably caught a cold.

What causes a cold?

A cold is an infection in the upper respiratory tract. It can be caused by more than 200 viruses. These viruses are highly contagious and can be caught by sharing objects, touching the eyes or nose after being exposed to a virus, or having contact with an infected person. The symptoms of colds vary. However, the main symptom will be a watery nose with discharge that is thick and yellow. Colds usually last one to two weeks and are especially common among young children.

What should I do?

• The best thing to do is to wait and watch your child.

• An over-the-counter cold medication may help with your child’s pain, cough, or runny nose.

• Call your child’s doctor if your child develops a fever of 101.5° F or higher or if the symptoms last for more than two weeks.

• Call the doctor if your child experiences vomiting, severe headache, dfficulty breathing, ear pain, or unusual sleepiness.

• Make sure your child gets plenty of fluids and rest to help relieve symptoms.

Are antibiotics ever needed for a cold?

Antibiotics will not cure a cold. In fact, there is no cure for a cold. The cold will have to run its course before your child feels better.

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Flu (Influenza) Your child begins sneezing and coughing. In addition, your child experiences fever, nasal congestion, chills, sweats, body aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Your child most likely has the flu.

What causes the flu?

The flu is caused by one of three influenza viruses: type A, B, or C. Type A is the virus responsible for the worldwide, more serious outbreaks. Type B causes smaller, local outbreaks. Type C is even less common and causes only mild symptoms. Treatment is sometimes needed to fight off the flu, but antibiotics are not an effective treatment.

What should I do?

• As a preventive measure, a flu shot may keep you and your child from getting the flu.

• If your child has symptoms of the flu, you should seek medical help. Most doctors advise you to watch your child carefully to make sure your child does not have any complications. For more severe cases, the doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication.

• Make sure that your child gets plenty of fluids and rest.

Are antibiotics ever needed for influenza?

Antibiotics are not an effective form of treatment for the flu because influenza is a viral infection. In some cases of the flu, unlike other viral infections, antiviral medications may be prescribed. Usually, getting plenty of rest and fluids and taking over-the-counter pain relievers will alleviate the symptoms of the flu.

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Runny Nose (with green or yellow mucus) Your child has a runny nose. This is a normal part of what happens during the common cold, and it gets better after a few days.

What causes a runny nose?

Many germs can cause a runny nose. When germs first infect the nose and sinuses, the nose makes clear mucus. This helps wash the germs from the nose and rid the body of the virus. After two or three days, the body’s immune cells fight back, changing the mucus to a greenish color. This is normal and does not mean your child needs an antibiotic.

What should I do?

• The best thing to do is to wait and watch your child.

• Some people find that using a cool mist vaporizer or using saltwater nose drops can make the child feel better by relieving some of the symptoms.

• Make sure that your child gets plenty of fluids and rest.

Are antibiotics ever needed for a runny nose?

Antibiotics are not usually prescribed to treat a runny nose. Antibiotics might be needed only if your child’s doctor tells you that your child has sinusitis. Otherwise, antibiotics will not help.

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Fluid in the Middle Ear Your child has fluid in the middle ear, also called otitis media with effusion (OME). The fluid usually goes away on its own.

What causes fluid in the middle ear?

When a child has a cold, the middle ear makes fluid just as the nose does. The fluid just doesn’t run out as easily from the middle ear as it does from the nose. Once a child has fluid in the middle ear, the fluid may not go away for a month or longer.

What should I do?

• The best thing to do is to wait and watch your child.

• Although aspirin is not recommended because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, other over-the-counter pain relievers can help with aches and pains.

• On your next routine visit to your child’s doctor, the doctor should be able to tell you if the fluid has gone away.

-OR• You may need to schedule a visit to see the doctor in a few months to be sure the fluid is gone.

Are antibiotics ever needed for OME? For most cases of OME, antibiotics aren’t needed. If the fluid is still present after a few months and is causing decreased hearing in both ears, antibiotics may be needed. However, if your child has a middle ear infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics right away.

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Sinus Infection (Acute sinusitis) Your child’s cold is lasting longer than usual. Your child is having difficulty breathing through the nose and has pain in the sinus areas.

Your child probably has a sinus infection.

What causes a sinus infection?

A sinus infection is a viral or bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract. When an infection such as a cold inflames and swells the mucous membranes in your child’s nose, the sinus openings can be blocked so that mucus cannot drain. The blockage traps bacteria and viruses in the sinuses. Other causes of sinus infections are allergies, nasal polyps, and dental problems. Sinus infections are more common in adults than in children.

What should I do?

• The best thing to do is to wait and watch your child.

• Placing warm, moist cloths on your child’s face can help relieve congestion and pain.

• Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest and fluids.

• Although aspirin is not recommended because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, other over-the-counter pain relievers can help with aches and pains.

• Seek medical help for your child if symptoms do not get better within a few days.

Are antibiotics ever needed for a sinus infection?

Sometimes antibiotics may be needed to treat acute sinusitis caused by bacteria. Be sure your child finishes the entire prescription of antibiotics to make sure the infection is totally gone.

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Strep Throat (Streptococcus pyogenes) Your child has a sore throat accompanied by fever, swollen lymph glands, headache, and muscle aches. Your child may have strep throat, a common bacterial infection in young children.

What causes strep throat?

Strep throat is caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes. A child may become infected by the bacteria spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs, or if the child touches an object on which the bacteria may be present, such as a doorknob. Strep throat bacteria are highly contagious and easily spread.

What should I do?

• Contact your doctor if your child has a sore throat without a runny nose or has a cold that lasts for more than 48 hours and is accompanied by swollen lymph glands or a fever of 101.5° F or higher.

• Get immediate medical help if your child has trouble breathing or swallowing or suffers from severe headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, a rash, or joint pain in addition to the sore throat.

Are antibiotics ever needed for strep throat?

Antibiotics are normally prescribed when the doctor has diagnosed strep throat. The antibiotic is usually taken by mouth. It is important that your child finish taking all of the antibiotic to rid the body of the strep throat bacteria.

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Illness

Symptoms

Acute Bronchitis

Your child has just begun to get over a cold and begins to experience soreness in the chest, a cough, and chills or a slight fever.

Cold

Your child begins sneezing and having symptoms such as watery eyes, a cough, a slight fever, and fatigue.

Flu

Your child begins sneezing and coughing. In addition, your child has a fever, nasal congestion, chills, sweats, body aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

Runny Nose

This is a normal part of what happens during the common cold. It usually gets better in a few days.

Fluid in the Middle Ear

Your child has fluid in the middle ear, also called otitis media with effusion (OME). The fluid usually goes away on its own.

Sinus Infection

Your child’s cold is lasting longer than usual.

Your child is having difficulty breathing through the nose and has pain in the sinus areas.

Strep Throat

Your child has a sore throat with fever, swollen lymph glands, headache, and muscle aches.

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Tips to make your child comfortable Here are some tips on how you can make your sick child more comfortable: • Your child should drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can make symptoms worse, so make sure that your child drinks at least 8 glasses of fluids each day.

• Your child should get plenty of rest. Sleep will help your child’s body fight infection. Your child should stay home and rest until she or he feels better and has not had a fever of 101° F or higher for 12 to 24 hours.

• You should adjust room temperature and humidity. Keep the room warm but not overheated. A humidifier can help keep the air moist and can reduce the discomfort caused by irritation of the throat.

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Notes

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