Common Question Antibiotics

8/17/2019 Common Question Antibiotics

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Common Questions, Quick Answers

• What are antibiotics?

• What kinds of germs make your child sick?

• How do antibiotics work?

•

When are antibiotics needed? • What should I do if my child needs an antibiotic?

• What is bacterial resistance?

• How can we help prevent bacterial resistance?

• What are possible side effects of antibiotics?

• What are signs of a severe reaction?

• Call your doctor at once if your child has one of these reactions

• When should I call the doctor?

What are antibiotics?

• Antibiotics are strong medicines used to treat sicknesses called infections• Infections can be caused by germs called bacteria, or viruses.

• Antibiotics kill bacteria only. hey do not kill viruses.

• When used properly, they can save lives.

• When not used properly, they could hurt your child.

What kinds of germs make your child sick?

• here are two main types of germs! bacteria and viruses

• "iral illnesses are much more common than bacterial illnesses

o #$amples of viral infections!

All colds All croup

All influen%a &flu'

Chicken po$

(ost coughs

(ost fevers

(ost sore throats

(ost sore throats

#$amples of bacterial infections!

(any ear infections

(ost sinus infections

)ome pneumonia

)trep throat

*rinary tract infections

Whooping cough &pertussis'

How do antibiotics work?

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+acteria and viruses spread very differently. his is

why antibiotics work on bacteria, but not on viruses. +acteria live by themselves. hey have a protective

cell wall around them. hey enter our body andmake more of themselves. his causes us to get

sick. Antibiotics destroy the bacteria protectiveճcell walls and kill them. "iruses cannot live by themselves. hey do not

have a protective cell wall. hey enter the body, gointo cells, and then make more of themselves inside

the bodys cells. Antibiotics do not work on viruses

because they do not have the protective cell wall.

Viral infections will not get better with

antibiotics!

When are antibiotics needed?

Antibiotics should only be used if your child has a

bacterial infection.

-our childs doctor will know if an antibiotic is

needed.

What should I do if my child needs an antibiotic?

Ask your doctor if your childs infection is caused

by a bacteria or virus. alk to your childs doctor about any worries you

may have about antibiotics. Wash your hands often to decrease the chances of

getting sick or spreading the infection. (ake sure your child takes the e$act amount of the

antibiotic. he amount is based on your childs

weight. If your child takes too much or too little ofthe antibiotic, it may not work right.

(ake sure your child takes A of the antibiotic

that was given to him, even if he is feeling better.

If you are not sure about the amount to give, ask

your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have other /uestions about the antibiotic, askyour doctor or pharmacist.

What is bacterial resistance?

#ach time we take an antibiotic, some bacteria are

killed. +ut other bacteria are not killed and learn to


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defend themselves against the antibiotic. hese

bacteria are called resistant.

0esistant bacteria happen when!

antibiotics are used too often

antibiotics are not taken the right way.

How can I hel reent bacterial resistance?

1o not demand that your childs doctor give you an

antibiotic for a viral infection.

*se antibiotics only when your childs doctor says

they are needed

(ake sure your child takes the right amount of the

antibiotic.


that was given to him

1o not take an antibiotic that was for someone else. 1o not give your childs antibiotic to anyone else.

1o not take an old antibiotic that has been lying

around the house. hrow out all old antibiotics.

here are three ways that you should throw out old

antibiotics!

hrow them in the trash. (ake sure you

crush the pills and put them back into the

original container. ape the container shut

and then put it in a bag. 2ut this bag inanother bag to keep children and pets from

getting into it ake them to a local household ha%ardous

waste collection site

ake them back to your pharmacy.

What are ossible side effects of antibiotics?

#ach antibiotic is different. (ost have few side

effects he most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea

and vomiting, or stomach pain.

)ome people may be allergic to an antibiotic. heycould get a rash, hives, or have problems breathing.

+e sure to tell your childs doctor of any side

effects.

What are the signs of a seere reaction to the antibiotic?

-our child could have problems breathing.


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In some severe cases, he may stop breathing.

Call your doctor at once if your child has one of these

reactions"

2roblems breathing 0ash that is getting worse

1iarrhea and vomiting that is getting worse

3ausea or stomach pain that is bad

When should I call the doctor?

Call our doctor if your child is sick for more than a

couple of days or if he is getting worse. -our childs

doctor can tell if the infection needs an antibiotic.

Call your doctor if your child gets a rash, nausea,

diarrhea and vomiting, or stomach pain after takingthe antibiotic and is getting worse.

Call your doctor right away if your child has

difficulty breathing after taking the antibiotic. Call your doctor if your childs infection does not

start to get better in 456 days.

Call your doctor if you have any /uestions about

your childs condition.

Quick Answers

Antibiotics are strong medicines used to treatcertain infections.

hey kill bacteria only. hey do not kill viruses

Antibiotics should only be used if your child has a

bacterial infection. (ake sure your child takes the e$act amount of the

antibiotic. he amount is based on your childsweight. If your child takes too much or too little of

the antibiotic, it may not work right.


that was given to him, even if he is feeling better.

#ach time we take an antibiotic, some bacteria arekilled. +ut other bacteria learn to defend themselves

against the antibiotic. hese bacteria are called

resistant. 0esistant bacteria happen when!

antibiotics are used too often

antibiotics are not taken the right way.

(ost antibiotics have few side effects.


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he most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea

and vomiting, or stomach pain. )ome people may be allergic to an antibiotic. hey

could get a rash, hives, or have problems breathing. 0emember, antibiotics will only kill bacteria. hey

do not kill viruses. Always use antibiotics wisely

#eferences

Association for 2rofessionals in Infection Control

and #pidemiology &A2IC'. Antibiotic )afely. 4774.

&cited 4778, 9ebruary :;'. *0!

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Common Question Antibiotics