In every family, children’s health problems always affect the hearts of every parent. Especially when the baby has fever symptoms, parents often feel anxious and helpless, hoping to make the child recover as soon as possible. In this case, as an important means of treating bacterial infections, the time and method of using antibiotics are particularly critical.
However, many parents have many doubts about the use of antibiotics, especially the question of “how many days should antibiotics be taken”. This article will provide you with a comprehensive and detailed guide to better understand and deal with this issue based on the expert opinions of the 2015 edition of the Guidelines for Clinical Application of Antimicrobial Drugs in China.
I. Basic principles
for the use of antibiotics First of all, we need to clarify a concept: antibiotics are not a panacea, they are mainly used to treat infectious diseases caused by bacteria, mycoplasma or fungi. Different types of infections have different recommended antibiotic use times and methods. According to the latest clinical guidelines, there is no fixed standard for the number of days of antibiotic use, but it needs to be considered according to the nature, location and severity of the infection.
For example, for mild upper respiratory infections, such as pharyngitis or tonsillitis, antibiotics are usually given for 3 to 5 days, while for more serious lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, or urinary tract infections, such as pyelonephritis, antibiotics may be given for 7 to 14 days, or even longer. This is because there are significant differences in the course and recovery time of different types of infections, so the use of antibiotics needs to be adjusted accordingly.
2. Recommendations on
the use of antibiotics for common non-severe bacterial infections in children For most children in outpatient clinics, the following principles can be followed to guide the use of antibiotics when they encounter non-severe bacterial fever:
Body temperature returns to normal: Body temperature is an important indicator to assess whether the infection has been effectively controlled. When the baby’s body temperature stays within the normal range for several days and does not rise repeatedly, it usually means that the infection has been effectively suppressed. This is the first step in determining whether the use of antibiotics can be gradually reduced.
Significant relief of symptoms: In addition to body temperature, you need to pay attention to other changes in your baby’s symptoms. For example, whether the cough is alleviated, whether the mental state is restored, whether the appetite is improved, etc. The improvement of these symptoms indicates that the baby is gradually recovering, and it is also an important reference for deciding whether to stop taking drugs.
Consolidation treatment for 3 to 4 days: Even if the baby’s symptoms have improved significantly, we recommend continuing to use antibiotics for 3 to 4 days to ensure that the pathogen is completely eliminated and prevent the recurrence of the disease. This period is known as the “consolidation treatment period”, which aims to consolidate the results of previous treatment and ensure the complete elimination of infection.
Special Reminder: If it is a special part or serious bacterial infection, in addition to the above requirements, such as mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, but also according to the recovery of the specific disease, to determine the course of antibiotics.
III. Roles and Responsibilities
of Parents Parents play a vital role in the use of antibiotics. The right approach can not only help babies recover faster, but also effectively avoid unnecessary side effects and drug resistance. Here are a few suggestions for parents:
Medication according to medical supervision: Before giving antibiotics to your baby, be sure to consult a professional doctor and strictly follow the prescription and medication instructions issued by the doctor. Do not increase or decrease the dosage or change the frequency of medication on your own, so as not to affect the therapeutic effect.
Observe changes in the condition: during the use of antibiotics, parents need to pay close attention to the baby’s condition changes, record body temperature, diet, sleep and so on. If there is no significant improvement in symptoms or new discomfort, the doctor should be contacted in time to adjust the treatment plan.
Regular follow-up: After the antibiotic treatment, it is recommended to take the baby back to the hospital for review. The doctor will evaluate the treatment effect and decide whether to continue the medication according to the actual situation. Regular follow-up visits can help identify potential problems in time to ensure the safety of your baby.
Avoid the misuse of antibiotics: Antibiotics should only be used to treat bacterial infections, not viral infections (such as the common cold, influenza) and other non-infectious diseases. Therefore, parents should not give their babies antibiotics at will, in order to avoid unnecessary health risks.
IV. Conclusion
In short, the rational and scientific use of antibiotics not only helps to protect children’s health, but also is an important measure to combat the increasingly serious problem of antibiotic resistance. By following these guidelines and seeking medical help when necessary, we can work together to create a safer and healthier environment for our children.
