"First with Kids" | Vermont Children's Hospital


	"First with Kids"
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Lewis First, MD offers parents and children tips for staying healthy and safe in his weekly First with Kids segments. Always delivered with enthusiasm and humor, First with Kids can be found on WOKO radio 98.9 FM, WCAX-TV Channel 3 and in the Chittenden County Newspaper Group papers.

Dr. First is Chief of Pediatrics at the Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine.

This week Dr. First offers tips on:

Antibiotic Overuse

July 21, 2008

Parents cannot resist asking me if their child would benefit from an antibiotic, so let me prescribe some advice about when to use antibiotics – and when not to.

While antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial germs, the majority of childhood illnesses are due to viral germs, and viral germs do not respond to antibiotics. So, if you use antibiotics when you are not sure whether a child has a bacterial or viral illness, this can lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

In fact, there are already some bacteria that are resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends antibiotics for immediate treatment of ear infections – since most of these are viral. But if your child has persistent ear pain, then bacteria are likely to be the culprits, and your pediatrician may recommend antibiotics.

So what do I recommend?

Do not insist on an antibiotic every time your child is ill. Colds, sore throats, stomach aches, and flu symptoms are usually due to viruses and are not immediate reasons to ask for an antibiotic. If you are concerned about your sick child, schedule a visit with your pediatrician rather than just calling the office and asking for an antibiotic. Hold off on antibiotics if it appears that the cause is viral – but ask your pediatrician how to make your child more comfortable.

If your pediatrician does prescribe an antibiotic, use it as prescribed and only for as long as prescribed. If you have anything left at the end of the treatment period, throw it out; do not save it for use another time.

Hopefully, with tips like this, parents will resist the temptation to ask for antibiotics at the first sign of illness.

Lewis First, MD is chief of pediatrics at the Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine. You can also catch "First with Kids" weekly on WOKO, 98.9 FM and now on WCAX-TV, Channel 3. Visit www.vermontchildrens.org to access all of this year's First with Kids segments.