Antibiotics are for bacteria and don't work for viruses. I would ask the doctor why she/he wants your baby to take an antibiotic for a virus.
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
Quote:
![]()
Antibiotics are useless against viruses and work only against bacteria!!! I'd do some heavy questioning of your Ped if I were you!
Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans Antibiotics are for bacteria and don't work for viruses. I would ask the doctor why she/he wants your baby to take an antibiotic for a virus. |
4
Quote:
It is always scary when our babies are sick! But illness really isn't something that we should fear. Easier said than done, I know
![]()
.
Pnemonia is a scary word, esp when you're told that your very young babe has it. The problem here is that there are quite a few different types of pnemonia. There are several bacteria that cause this condition as well as several viruses. For bacterial pnemonia, I would not even HESITATE to give my child antibiotics. Viral pnemonia is a completely different animal! Viruses do NOT respond to antibiotic treatment, AT ALL! So, not only does this little immune system have to contend with this virus, it also has to deal with the loss of it's gut flora, which is a first line of defense against invading pathogens!
Gidget, is your baby breastfed? IF so, this is fantastic! It means that he has a continual source of gut flora renewal!! It also means he's getting lots of antibodies from you! Does he have a fever? Is he eating well and is otherwise happy?
I know what you're struggling with here! It's pretty hard to set aside a lifetime of trusting what the doctors tell you overnight. I was raised this way. "The Doctors are smarter than us and they know what's best for us! They would never do anything to hurt us". It's still hard for me, even now to question this. i think you should do what your heart tells you to. The antibiotics are probably not going to do irreversable harm to your babe (but be aware that Augmentin is a pretty powerful ab and contains penicillan and some kids can be allergic to this!).
As a parent, it makes me feel better if I am 'giving' my son something! I feel like I am taking an active role in his recovery instead of trusting his immune system to do it's job. Does your son eat solids yet? You could give him some fish oil (halibut if possible and you can get it in strawberry flavour now
![]()
) to help boost his immune system. Arabinogalactan (from larch) is a good one as well. Vit C (sodium ascorbate, not ascorbic acid or calcium ascorbate!) helps too! There are lots of fruit and veggie sources of vit C as well, if your son is eating solids!
As a Mama, you need to do what your heart tells you to do. It prob doesn't matter which route you go, if you're anything like me, you'll question your descision either way! Telling a Mama not to worry is like telling the sun not to shine
![]()
s. It's agonizing!!
If you already have the perscription, it prob won't do much harm to give it 24-48 hours and see if there's any improvement before starting the ab. If you do decide to give him the script, please PLEASE be sure that he finishes the medication! THe worst thing to do is to start a course of antibiotics and then stop mid-way thru! This contributes to antibiotic resistance, and if your kiddo ever needs this same ab again, it may not work.
I hope he (and you) are feeling better soon!
![]()
s
Originally Posted by lovetomom Gidget, I am sorry that your babe is sick. My girl also had pnemonia in the winter and I did a round of antibiotics (Zitromax). I was also really hesitant to do it but boy am I ever glad I did. Pnemonia is really scary, and even my Chinese doctor who I really trust said that in some cases (like pnemonia) the immune system needs immediate help and anitbiotics does the job. |
Pnemonia is a scary word, esp when you're told that your very young babe has it. The problem here is that there are quite a few different types of pnemonia. There are several bacteria that cause this condition as well as several viruses. For bacterial pnemonia, I would not even HESITATE to give my child antibiotics. Viral pnemonia is a completely different animal! Viruses do NOT respond to antibiotic treatment, AT ALL! So, not only does this little immune system have to contend with this virus, it also has to deal with the loss of it's gut flora, which is a first line of defense against invading pathogens!
Gidget, is your baby breastfed? IF so, this is fantastic! It means that he has a continual source of gut flora renewal!! It also means he's getting lots of antibodies from you! Does he have a fever? Is he eating well and is otherwise happy?
I know what you're struggling with here! It's pretty hard to set aside a lifetime of trusting what the doctors tell you overnight. I was raised this way. "The Doctors are smarter than us and they know what's best for us! They would never do anything to hurt us". It's still hard for me, even now to question this. i think you should do what your heart tells you to. The antibiotics are probably not going to do irreversable harm to your babe (but be aware that Augmentin is a pretty powerful ab and contains penicillan and some kids can be allergic to this!).
As a parent, it makes me feel better if I am 'giving' my son something! I feel like I am taking an active role in his recovery instead of trusting his immune system to do it's job. Does your son eat solids yet? You could give him some fish oil (halibut if possible and you can get it in strawberry flavour now
As a Mama, you need to do what your heart tells you to do. It prob doesn't matter which route you go, if you're anything like me, you'll question your descision either way! Telling a Mama not to worry is like telling the sun not to shine
If you already have the perscription, it prob won't do much harm to give it 24-48 hours and see if there's any improvement before starting the ab. If you do decide to give him the script, please PLEASE be sure that he finishes the medication! THe worst thing to do is to start a course of antibiotics and then stop mid-way thru! This contributes to antibiotic resistance, and if your kiddo ever needs this same ab again, it may not work.
I hope he (and you) are feeling better soon!
Quote:
Any and every time my son is ill, whether he has a cold virus, the flu or an ear infection, this is how he behaves as well. There is a reason that children get fevers and there is also a reason why they make them lethargic. The fever is the body's way of trying to kill off an invading pathogen. The lethargy keeps the child still so that the body can focus it's energies on getting rid of what's causing the illness. While this is alarming for a parent used to seeing an energetic child always at play, it's not a bad thing and shouldn't be feared.
Types of pneumonia can be like types of broken legs. Some are more severe than others and some are more aggressive than others. The bottom line is that antibotics, IV, IM oral or otherwise won't do ANYTHING to combat the virus that causes viral pneumonia. If the antibiotics are meant as a prophylaxis against secondary infection, that's different, but the ab's aren't actually treating the initial condition.
![]()
Good advice!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electra375 So, while I do not remember what type of pneumonia they said he had, if they even did. I knew it was serious b/c of his fever and lethargic behavior and in this case I did not question the course of treatment. (usually I do) |
Types of pneumonia can be like types of broken legs. Some are more severe than others and some are more aggressive than others. The bottom line is that antibotics, IV, IM oral or otherwise won't do ANYTHING to combat the virus that causes viral pneumonia. If the antibiotics are meant as a prophylaxis against secondary infection, that's different, but the ab's aren't actually treating the initial condition.
Quote:
| Trust your instincts. |
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
