In daily life, when facing minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, and swelling, many people habitually request doctors to prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are effective in fighting non-viral infections, but the public often views them as a cure-all, even frequently using them for common colds in children. However, all drugs have side effects, and antibiotics pose significant potential risks to children, including what specific effects?
Antibiotics, formerly known as antibacterials, not only effectively eradicate bacteria but also inhibit and kill various pathogenic microorganisms such as fungi, mycoplasma, and chlamydia. In short, they are therapeutic drugs for non-viral infections. It is worth noting that antibiotics are not omnipotent and have exposed various side effects in medical practice, especially requiring extra caution when used in children.
Improper use of antibiotics in children may have negative effects in three main aspects: firstly, long-term abuse can lead to the body developing resistance, requiring more and stronger antibiotics for treatment, and even promoting pathogen genetic mutations; secondly, antibiotics disrupt the normal intestinal flora balance, potentially causing intestinal diseases and nutrient absorption disorders; furthermore, they may also lead to vitamin K deficiency, which is essential for blood clotting, and a lack of it may lead to bleeding issues.
Therefore, when considering giving antibiotics to children for treatment, parents should fully comply with the doctor’s professional judgment. Usually, antibiotics are truly needed only when diagnosed with bacterial or mycoplasma infections. For most diseases caused by viruses, such as common respiratory infections in children and infantile diarrhea, antibiotics are ineffective. Faced with symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, and nasal congestion, mainly caused by viral infections, antibiotics should not be used blindly.
When antibiotics must be used, the following guidelines should be followed: oral administration is preferred, with muscle injection if necessary, and intravenous injection as a last resort. The drug dosage must be strictly adhered to the prescription, adjustments should not be made arbitrarily. Additionally, although foods like garlic, onions, and ginger are praised for their natural antibacterial properties, enhancing immunity and preventing diseases, they cannot replace professional drug treatment.
In summary, the principle of antibiotic use is to use targeted, lower-level single drugs as much as possible, avoiding unnecessary combination therapy, and prioritizing oral administration. Antibiotics are generally not recommended for colds, seasonal infantile diarrhea, and asthma, emphasizing rational drug use to prevent the occurrence of abuse.
