give antibiotics before trip??

[twinkletoesmom]

Would you give you'r healty kids antibiotics before the trip as an insurance?

So I took my son to the Dr. today for an ear infection and I noticed that I have one refill before next year (kinda weird but anyways) I was thinking of starting my kids on it a few days before my trip because it is one of my worst fears that my kids will get sick at disney. Now i know that most things are viral and an anti. won't help but since my kids never react bad to anti, at all is there any reason why I shouldn't give it to them?

 

[tink&cinderella]

Here's what we do:


Both my dd's have ear tubes and frequent ear infections. My doctor give me a prescription to fill for antibiotics and I fill it in powder form . The pharmacist gives me one bottle with the measured antibiotic and in another bottle, distilled water with the dd's name on it that corresponds.

I only mix and give the antibiotic if they run a fever and/or complain of ear pain.

That's what I would do with that repeat.

Denise

 

[hsmamato2]

No! antibiotics are not a preventative, it's a medicine that destroys the bacteria that is causing illness-either from a bacteria that caused the problem, or a bacteria that's growing due to some abnormal occurence- like excess ear fluid and retention-
giving it to a healthy child would at best,be useless- at worst produce antibodies of resistance in your kids so if they do get sick with a bacterial infection ,it may make it HARDER to treat if it does happen!
A large majority of ear infections are viral anyway, making an anitbiotic regimen useless. Boost your kids immunity by healthful eating,exercise,and hand washing- if you really have to ,keep the powdered type on hand-but remember- if it's not bacterial it won't help. If it's viral,and is too infected to heal on its own, then anitbiotics might help, they're not an instant cure all anyway-
BTW, there are a lot of great sites online to research this subject and how antibiotics work.-

 

[twinkletoesmom]

I was thinking more along the lines that most of the time the bacteria is in the body for a bit before the systoms appear and just in case something is starting I can nip it in the butt before they are feeling sick. Like I said I know that anti won't help viral. My kids do eat very healty is there anything else I can do. Believe it or not I"m not big on giving my kids any type of meds unless very necessary but this is a one time thing. I heard that people give their kids Airborne before, Any thing else?

 

[XYSRUS]

Like hsmamato2 said, giving antibiotics for nothing or for a viral infection can lead to the growth of drug resisitant bacteria. That is bad not only for your children , but for everyone in society. Please only take antibiotics for an infection that has been positively cultured by your doctor. Just my 2 cents, but don't complain in 20 yrs. when NO antibiotic will work.

 

[Harmony]

I would not give antibiotics unless it's determined to be an infection. As an "insurance" policy? No way! If your child does happen to come down with something while at Disney, call the doctor-on-call and he/she can prescibe antibiotics, *if* they determine that your child needs it.

 

[snugglepeas]

You NEVER want to give antibiotics unless instructed by your Doctor if you give them when not needed they may not work in future use. always give your kids prescribed meds only with doctors orders

 

[minkydog]

No I would not give antibiotics as a preventative. That's not what they are designed for. Just because your child has never reacted badly before doesn't mean they won't react badly in the future. Antibiotic use can lead to yeast infections, allergic reactions, upset stomachs, and drug resistance, among other things. Just keep washing their hands and stay away from sick kids. If they get sick on vacation, well, they get sick. Sick happens. I don't think I ever took a vacation that one of my three didn't come down with something.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

is there any reason why I shouldn't give it to them?

Yes, and the reason is that the over/inappropriate use of antibiotics is creating mutations in the bacteria so that we now have many super drug resistant bugs that sometimes cannot be treated with antibiotics. Not fun if you have a serious infection and it can't be treated. If there is evidence of a bacterial infection, then antibiotics are appropriate. Otherwise, no.

 

[dementia412]

As stated above by many people don't do this. It's pointless and may have bad effects (now and later). I can unerstand taking them along if you think it's likely they'll get sick. Then if they do, and the doc says it's bacterial you won't pay the high price of Disney meds ... I've been told on the Dis that meds at sight can be downright !

 

[Allison]

Yes, and the reason is that the over/inappropriate use of antibiotics is creating mutations in the bacteria so that we now have many super drug resistant bugs that sometimes cannot be treated with antibiotics. Not fun if you have a serious infection and it can't be treated. If there is evidence of a bacterial infection, then antibiotics are appropriate. Otherwise, no.

Exactly.

Do not give antibiotics when not needed.

 

[RobinMarie]

Like hsmamato2 said, giving antibiotics for nothing or for a viral infection can lead to the growth of drug resisitant bacteria. That is bad not only for your children , but for everyone in society. Please only take antibiotics for an infection that has been positively cultured by your doctor. Just my 2 cents, but don't complain in 20 yrs. when NO antibiotic will work.

I just want to shout this from the rooftops sometimes. Thanks!

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

okay, clearly I have the opinion outside of the majority. I don't think I'd give it to my kids prior to the trip because it wouldn't do any good. I would, however, have the script filled and would not hesitate to give it at the first sign of trouble.

 

[RobinMarie]

okay, clearly I have the opinion outside of the majority. I don't think I'd give it to my kids prior to the trip because it wouldn't do any good. I would, however, have the script filled and would not hesitate to give it at the first sign of trouble.

How would you know, at the first sign of trouble, if the trouble was bacterial in nature and will respond to the antibiotic you have in the bottle?

 

[krystalleigh1]

Please only take antibiotics for an infection that has been positively cultured by your doctor. Just my 2 cents, but don't complain in 20 yrs. when NO antibiotic will work.

I have a question about this. My ds has had several ear infections and NONE have been cultured by the dr. The dr. just looks in the ear, sees an infection, and writes a scrip for antibiotics. This has always made me nervous, but I did what the Dr. said. SHOULD my Dr. be doing a culture for each ear infection? Do they just stick a swab in the ear? Why wouldn't they have done that before? OKay, now I'm really nervous. Thanks for the info.

 

[StevePSU1]

Giving children antibiotics as a preventive measure may actually make them more susceptible to REALLY harmful bacteria. Antibiotics kill the natural bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria help keep you from getting sick by not allowing harmful bacteria to grow through competition. Without the normal bacteria in your gut, you are much more susceptible to disease.

There are peer reviewed studies that compare the incidence of salmonella infection in people who have taken antibiotics preventively and those who have not. It takes a much smaller amount of salmonella bacteria to make the person who took the antibiotic sick.

Bottom line....DO NOT DO THIS.

 

[Allison]

I have a question about this. My ds has had several ear infections and NONE have been cultured by the dr. The dr. just looks in the ear, sees an infection, and writes a scrip for antibiotics. This has always made me nervous, but I did what the Dr. said. SHOULD my Dr. be doing a culture for each ear infection? Do they just stick a swab in the ear? Why wouldn't they have done that before? OKay, now I'm really nervous. Thanks for the info.

I think you are fine. My doctor doesn't actually culture it either. After seeing as many ear infections as they do, they know pretty well what is going on.

 

[StevePSU1]

I have a question about this. My ds has had several ear infections and NONE have been cultured by the dr. The dr. just looks in the ear, sees an infection, and writes a scrip for antibiotics. This has always made me nervous, but I did what the Dr. said. SHOULD my Dr. be doing a culture for each ear infection? Do they just stick a swab in the ear? Why wouldn't they have done that before? OKay, now I'm really nervous. Thanks for the info.

Most physicians would prefer to let ear infections run their course and not prescribe antibiotics (that arent effective anyway.) In fact our physician has a policy posted indicated that they will not prescribe antibiotics for VIRAL infections. Most parents, OTOH, want something done NOW because their child is in pain. I think you physician has gotten used to appeasing parents, OR isnt up on current research.

Multiple ear infections are (many times) caused by narrowing and blockages in the ear canals causing fluid buildup.

You would culture bacteria to determine exactly what bacteria is in the ear (if it is bacteria) do be able to prescribe appropriate antibiotic. Most physicians prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic.

 

[Sha]

you shouldnt be giving antibiotics if there isnt something wrong. This is why there are infectioins that are hard to knock out because of over medicating. Teach your kids to wash hands... use, but dont OVER use the alcohol based hand wash. It really comes down to hand washing.

 

[krystalleigh1]

Most physicians would prefer to let ear infections run their course and not prescribe antibiotics (that arent effective anyway.) In fact our physician has a policy posted indicated that they will not prescribe antibiotics for VIRAL infections. Most parents, OTOH, want something done NOW because their child is in pain. I think you physician has gotten used to appeasing parents, OR isnt up on current research.

Multiple ear infections are (many times) caused by narrowing and blockages in the ear canals causing fluid buildup.

You would culture bacteria to determine exactly what bacteria is in the ear (if it is bacteria) do be able to prescribe appropriate antibiotic. Most physicians prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic.

My Dr. does prescribe a broad sprctrum antibiotic. Never even mentioned a culture though, even when I asked if there was anything we could do besides antibiotics.

We've tried chiropractic (not suggested by our dr.), using a daily allergy medication (to keep the ears dry),load him up on decongestants when he has a cold, and ear candeling (also not suggested by our dr). And when he is on antibiotics I also give him acidophililus. Do you know of any other things I could be doing to PREVENT ear infections. He eats healthy, naps, but every time he gets a cold he gets an ear infection. It makes me sick having to give him any more antibiotics (as he has taken many in the last year) but I don't know what else to do if he gets an infection. I'm all for the natural healing abilities of the body, but when he has a fever of 102 and is in so much pain I would do anything to help him feel better (and so far that's been taking him to the dr-where they give him yet another antibiotic). Any suggestions on preventing infections?

(Sorry to the OP for taking ove the thread)