Show
Using antibiotics when they are not the right medicine will not help. In fact, it may even cause more harm than good. Why? Because antibiotics only treat infections caused by bacteria—not viruses. Plus, like all medications, antibiotics have side effects. Before prescribing an antibiotic, your pediatrician will find out if it is the right medicine to treat your child's infection.
1. My child has a really bad cold. Why won't the doctor prescribe an antibiotic?
2. Don't some colds turn into bacterial infections? So why wait to start an antibiotic?
3. Isn't a nose draining yellow or green mucus a sign of a bacterial infection?
4. Aren't antibiotics supposed to treat ear infections?
5. Aren't antibiotics used to treat all sore throats?
6. Do antibiotics cause side effects?
7. How long does it take an antibiotic to work?
8. Can antibiotics lead to resistant bacteria?
9. What are antiviral medicines?
10. How can I use antibiotics safely?
More information
Last Updated11/1/2022SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Section on Infectious Diseases (Copyright © 2022) The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. How long does it take to get over bacterial infection?Symptoms in case of acute Bacterial Infections may get resolved spontaneously in a duration of approx. two weeks, without undergoing treatment. However, in chronic cases when the symptoms persist for a longer duration, such as for 10 or more days, there is a need for the consultation with a doctor.
Do bacterial infections get worse before they get better?Symptoms often get worse before they get better so there may be an initial increase in redness when treatment is started before it starts to fade. Tell a doctor if the area of infection continues to spread or you become worse after you start antibiotics.
Does bacterial infection go away with antibiotics?Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria, but even some bacterial infections get better without antibiotics. We rely on antibiotics to treat serious, life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia and sepsis, the body's extreme response to an infection.
What are 5 common symptoms of a bacterial infection?What are the symptoms of a bacterial infection?. fever.. feeling tired or fatigued.. swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin or elsewhere.. headache.. nausea or vomiting.. How long do symptoms of a bacterial infection last?Bacterial Infections
Symptoms persist longer than the expected 10-14 days a virus tends to last. Fever is higher than one might typically expect from a virus. Fever gets worse a few days into the illness rather than improving.
|