When I told a mom at school that my child has never taken an antibiotic she looked at me like I had three heads.

Your child has a bad cold or bronchitis. Should I or shouldn’t I call the pediatrician for antibiotics? Firstly, bacteria usually do not cause either of these. Usually they are both viral.  After a week or two of a runny nose and snot you’ve had enough. Your doctor knows it's likely viral but to make you happy he writes you a prescription anyway. Your child takes the antibiotic and gets better. Usually in the same amount of time your child would of gotten better anyway.

In the short term everything has gone as planned. In the long run, though, the damage is potentially huge and partially hidden. As a society, we hand out antibiotics like candy.

Every year, more and more children with viral illnesses are given unnecessary antibiotics, and as a result, the bad bacteria (which we all have, but your immune system keeps in check) are floating around in our bodies get stronger and stronger.  In fact they get so strong that many of them have already been reported to be resistant to even against our most powerful antibiotics.

Here are a few tips you can use to protect you and your child:

1) Bad colds even bouts of bronchitis usually even ones that last 10 days to 2 weeks don’t necessarily need antibiotics.  They should be administered only after pneumonia is confirmed via chest x-ray.  Bronchitis and Pneumonia are two different things.  Bronchitis is usually viral and Pneumonia usually bacterial. In rare cases pneumonia can also be causes by fungi or virus.

2) Green sinus discharge and green sputum does not mean you require antibiotics. Sinus discharge, sputum, and phlegm all turn various colors as the body fights infection. Its means they’re dying you’re your child is expelling them. Many studies have shown that over and over.

3) The use of antibiotics is even being halted with the raising of chickens and other livestock in our country. Their over utilization for years has created “super-bacteria” that don’t respond to antibiotics. Even giant chicken company Perdue recognizes this huge issue facing our society and is stopping the use of antibiotics entirely.

As a parent the decision is ultimately yours. Remember two absolute facts;

First your child’s immune system is like a muscle that is strengthened when challenged.  

Second remember that a fever is one of the body’s main defense mechanisms to kill bacteria and virus. At 102° bacteria begin to die and at 103° viruses start to perish. Fever is a good thing!

I hope this has shed a little light on the decision you will you may need to make. We are always open to feedback or comments.

In Health Always,

Dr. K