Many times, when we go to the pediatrician with our sick children, we do so in the hope that they will prescribe some antibiotic to "cut to the chase." However, most doctors are increasingly reluctant to prescribe these drugs, This generates mistrust in many mothers and fathers, who leave the consultation with the feeling that their children have not received adequate care.
Antibiotics save many lives and are extremely useful drugs in the treatment of bacterial infections, but they are not used to treat infections caused by viruses, fungi or protozoa. So if your child has a cold, sore throat, or cough, they won't always need an antibiotic. It will be your pediatrician who should assess what type of infection you have and whether or not you need to take an antibacterial drug.
What is the risk of a misuse of antibiotics?
Bacterial resistance
The inappropriate use of antibiotics is causing them to appear more and more bacteria resistant to them. This constitutes a serious public health problem since the duration of the illnesses is lengthened, the number of hospital admissions increases and the patient may even die. In addition, resistant bacteria can be transmitted to other people and spread to the rest of the population. The problem of resistance is even more accentuated in children since they tend to get more infections and, therefore, are more exposed to misuse of antibiotics.
According to a study carried out by Valencian researchers, together with a consortium of scientists from several countries, in Spain an excessive number of antibiotics are prescribed to children. The results have been published in the journal The Journal of Pediatrics and conclude that Spain is among the European Union countries with the highest resistance to antibiotics, Spanish children having received, in their first two years of life, up to 50% more antibiotics than German or American children.
Destruction of the gut microbiota
Antibiotics not only kill pathogenic bacteria, but also Beneficial bacteria that make up the intestinal microbiota and other areas of our body disappear. When this bacterial flora is damaged, it leaves the field free for the colonization of other bacteria or fungi that can cause infections. Children and babies have a weaker intestinal microbiota that can be easily damaged so, before using an antibiotic, it is necessary to assess whether its use is really justified.
In addition, studies published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, conclude that the administration of antibiotics in the first years of life, together with births by cesarean section, and artificial breastfeeding, contribute to a less bacterial diversity in the intestinal microbiota and the appearance of bacteria that carry genes resistant to antibiotics. These findings are very interesting, since it is known that the alteration of the microbiome during the first years of life increases the risk of suffering from obesity, asthma, allergies, diabetes and autoimmune diseases throughout life. Administration of antibiotics during labor could also promote the development of resistant bacteria in the baby.
efectos secundarios
Apart from the resistors, antibiotics can have other unwanted effects. The most frequent are digestive (nausea, diarrhea or stomach pain). Some people may experience mild allergic reactions such as itching or rash, or more serious ones such as difficulty breathing or anaphylactic shock.
How to minimize the risks of antibiotics?
The antibiotics should only be taken under medical prescription and strictly following the recommendations for use in terms of dosage, mode of administration and duration of treatment.
Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if the symptoms have disappeared. Just because your child is feeling better does not mean that the bacteria are completely gone. Symptoms may come back. In addition, the suspension of the treatment before time favors the appearance of bacteria resistant to the antibiotic.
Don't save the leftover antibiotic for another time. If it has been taken correctly, nothing should be left over, but if this happens, the surplus should never be saved to treat another pathology. Different infections require different types of antibiotics.