Chicken Pox and antibiotics

[Mamapits]

HI,
I have a friend who's 5 yo daughter has chicken pox. Her X took her to the Dr and the Dr prescribed antibiotics. When the mom asked why the answer was that the little bumps infect each other so the antibiotic helps with that???

Anyone ever hear of that?

Me and my 5 yo son are going to visit tomorrow to see how she is doing

[Gitti]

Total nonsense!!!

No wonder some kids actually die of harmless childhood diseases.

[Gitti]

http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Va...ckenPoxWhy.htm

[ammiga]

Isn't CP a viral infection? How would an antibiotic help with that?

[MissRubyandKen]

Unless there was an actual secondary bacterial infection? I really don't have a clue why a doc would prescribe antibiotics.

[Nirvana4freedom]

My guess is that the doc may have reasons to believe there is some bacterial infection in the rash to prescribe the abx. Otherwise no point at all in giving antibiotics for chicken pox.

[Mamapits]

Originally Posted by ammiga

Isn't CP a viral infection? How would an antibiotic help with that?

That was my first question.

I was talking ot a friend and she mentioned how some of these Dr's just wantt o feel that they are doing something.

[Ophelia]

My understanding is that you can indeed have a secondary bacterial infection on the skin if the scabs get infected. I can't imagine that this happens very often. I would most certainly NOT give my child antibiotics as a precaution only, when he is already fighting off a virus and antibiotics kill the good bacteria. I would only give them if the scabs were actually infected (and I wonder then if they can give something topically instead of oral).

[an_domhan]

Originally Posted by Ophelia

My understanding is that you can indeed have a secondary bacterial infection on the skin if the scabs get infected. I can't imagine that this happens very often. I would most certainly NOT give my child antibiotics as a precaution only, when he is already fighting off a virus and antibiotics kill the good bacteria. I would only give them if the scabs were actually infected (and I wonder then if they can give something topically instead of oral).

I'd have to agree that this is probably why they were prescribed. Some of the cases of CP mortality involve necrotising faciitis... and antipyretics.

[k9sarchik]

Wow, that's ridiculous! My DS is just getting over CP right now. No antibiotics needed. They can get infected if they are not washed with mild soap and water regularly, but it's like not cleaning any wound.
I took my DS to his Kaiser Dr. only so it could get on his record. Dr. looked at him and said Yup! That's chicken pox!....have a nice day.