N.P. asks from New Lenox, IL on October 26, 2007
Kids to Go on Antibiodics for First Time...
To make a really long story short, my kids have been fighting fevers for 4 days now. We went to the doctor on Wednesday and the thought was that it was due to immunizations 10 days back. I understand many of you have strong opinions against immunizations, and I respect your decision, but I am not looking for cons of immunization at the moment. Their fever has returned, as well as increased runny nose and congestion. So the doctor wants to put them on antibiodics. This will be the first time they are on antibiodics. They are 15.5 months old. How old were your children when they first had antibiodics? Any side effects? Things to look out for. Your sharing of experience is appreciated.
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T.C. answers from Chicago on October 28, 2007
With antibiotics there should have been at least a strep test done or something. What is the diagnosis for giving them??? So unless it is a proven bacterial infection, then don't give them. Antibiotics don't work on viruses.
K.K. answers from Chicago on October 27, 2007
My kids have been on antibiotics, no probs! My second was on them as early as 12mo-13mo for an ear infection that would not go away on its own. Good luck!
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K.M. answers from Chicago on October 26, 2007
My son was 9 months- and it was amoxicillan. side effect diarrhea.
You can offset the runs with yogurt and bananas.
Daughter was also 9 months, same thing as my son.
Was this the MMR shot? If so, my daughter had the same thing exactly 10 days after the shot. 104 fever, spiked to 105.5. It eventually went away on it's own.
The runny nose and congestion may have caused an ear infection. Amoxicillan is pretty basic anti-biotic. I would not worry about giving it to them.
Though I haven't read the responses to your request, I am sure you're going to have alot of DON'T DO IT people on here. Antibiotics are prescribed for a reason and if your kids are 15.5 months old and have not been prescribed anything to date - then your ped doesn't sound like an "overprescriber" and I would do it.
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A.G. answers from Chicago on October 27, 2007
First of all take a deep breath, most kids do fine with antibiotics. The worst side effect I ever had for my kids was diahrrea and some not so nice diaper rash. Not a great thing, but not the worst in the world. Just feed them the B.R.A.T. diet while they are on antibiotics if it upsets their tummies, and make sure to give them yogurt with probiotics every day, oh and lots of liquids ask your doc about pedia light or Gatorade with water if they are coughing: it really does wonders to help with their tummies, any doctor I have ever talked to agrees. Also, there is a lot of nasty stuff going around right now, my kids are actuallt getting over pneumonia. Croup is going around, as well as strep throat, which my daughter had earlier this month. Also, don't worry about them becoming immune to antibiotics if this is only their first round, amoxicillin treats most thing well, and if it doesn't they have plenty others. It's only if they have to have them repeatedly (like my son did) that they can build resistance to them, but also if you have a bacterial infection you need them to get better. I just read recently that one of the major reasons that antibiotics are not as effective as they used to be is because not only do people take them when they shouldn't for thing like colds and such, but they are also not taking them for the prescribed length of time (7 days instead of 10) and they feel that this is what is causing bacterias to mutate and render some antibiotics useless. That being said, I hope they feel well soon.
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A.A. answers from Chicago on October 27, 2007
I would ask your doctor why, exactly, he feels the need to prescribe antibiotics. If the flare-up is from the vax, then unless there is a bacterial infection, the antibiotic will do nothing. It will be one of those things to watch the fevers and try to control them a bit with fever reducers, if needed.
This should also be reported to VAERS (https://secure.vaers.org/VaersDataEntryintro.htm). In fact, every time your child has anything "negative" happen within 1-15 days AFTER an administration of a vaccine, it should be reported.
If you do decide to give antibiotics, you need to push fluids (pedialyte, water) and "good" foods (yougurt, etc). My daughter had her first antibiotic (penicillin) at 2 1/2 due to a bad ear infection. It gave her really bad diarrhea. She ended up in the ER to get an IV since when she doesn't feel good, she refuses to eat/drink anything.
Good luck...and remember that you should always follow your mommy intuition. If there is something that concerns you, even with your doctor's reassurance, you can always get a second opinion from another doctor. You do not have to just go by what one doctor says (and not a second opinion from another doctor in the same practice).
T.C. answers from Chicago on October 28, 2007
With antibiotics there should have been at least a strep test done or something. What is the diagnosis for giving them??? So unless it is a proven bacterial infection, then don't give them. Antibiotics don't work on viruses.
M.O. answers from Chicago on October 27, 2007
Watch for rash, especially prickly, red raised rash. My 15 mo just had a fever for 5 days mostly low grade but had 1 at 102.7. He then started with runny nose and cough. I respect your md's opinion but it sounds more viral to me. Antibiotics wouldn't help that. The virus would have to run it's course. I originally thought the fevers were due to teeth but after 102 I ruled that out b/c a fever wouldn't get that high with that, and sure enough by day 6, no fever, just cough and now that is gone, no ATB. Good luck.
G.S. answers from Indianapolis on October 27, 2007
Hi Nicole,
G. here. I have three children and all have been put on antibotics at one time or another. The only side effects to them is if one or both of your kids are allergic but the doctor can tell you more about that with this being the first time you have to try what the doctor perscribes and hope. I only had child that was allergic and we just stoped giving that one and went to another. Hope this helps. G.
J.L. answers from Chicago on October 27, 2007
I would do a bit more research its very rare for kids to have side effects 10 days after vaccinations. It could just be a virus if it is antibiotics are not going to help. I would do a bit more research on their symptoms.
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:-z4MbB9Yzj4J:www.ant...
If you do think they need the antibiotics be sure have then drink lots of fluid.
S.L. answers from Indianapolis on October 27, 2007
Allow me to start out by saying I have had one child who has had to suffer through illness after illness as a baby. He had his first ear infection at the age of 3 months and suffered through those repeatedly for next few years. After a couple of sets of tubes and natural growth as well, they have finally subsided. He has had all sorts of illnesses, influenza, pneumonia, hand foot and mouth, strep throat, and has been on a slew of antibiotics as a result.
Antibiotics have a strong tendency to cause diarrhea, so be sure to keep them full of fluids. I find it hard to believe both babies would be having the exact same reaction to the immunizations; though I can say my little one ended up with a mild case of chicken pox after that shot, so it's not out of the realm of possibilities. However with fevers that high it does point to bacterial. I agree with asking the doctor why he think the antibiotics are necessary. I have found some doctors will prescribe them just to shut you up and get you out of the office/hospital room. It sounds like they may have a viral infection; if the sinus drainage becomes yellow that is infection; green snot is dead infection. Green is good, yellow is bad :) Clear, well that's okay most mucus is clear or milky looking anyway.
The other moms are right; repeat administration of antibiotics causes certain antibiotics to become useless. Though I never allowed my son to be treated with them in the case of a viral infection, as they would do no good, with all of his ear infections amongst other things I had no choice but to allow the antibiotics. His ears were so bad he would wake up in the morning and literally almost as soon as he would sit up, puss (and sometimes blood) would drain, pour almost, from one of his ears. Even to the point where the infections wouldn't come with fevers anymore, they were so frequent. Anyhow, he is now somewhat resistant to lower levels of antibiotics. With all the past treatment he has to have stronger doses to actually get well when he's sick. And those come with worse diarrhea, but fortunately after having gone through all this early in life, he's now a healthy kid (with the exception of the asthma, which I suspect he will grow out of).
Make sure if you administer the medication, they finish ALL of it! Not finishing courses of antibiotics is another way certain strands of bacteria become resistant to them.
Sorry that was so long!
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