Monthly Topics
ANTIBIOTIC USE
There are two main types of
infections in the pediatric population: viral and bacterial. Viral infections
are responsible for most colds, vomiting, diarrhea, and sore throats. There are
no cures for most viral infections. They must run their course, which lasts 5
to 10 days. Since antibiotics are not effective against viral infections,
treatment is aimed at comfort and symptomatic relief.
Antibiotics are
the mainstay of treatment for bacterial infections and are among the most
prescribed pediatric drugs. As antibiotic use has increased over the years, so
has the resistance of pathogens. This makes it more difficult to treat
true infections. In an effort to decrease the risk of bacterial
resistance, the American Academy of Pediatrics has emphasized judicious use of
antibiotics. Antibiotics, as with any medicine, come with potential for side
effects varying from mild to severe reactions. Our Doctors take a conservative
approach to treating illness, using antibiotics only when appropriate, looking
out for the best interest of your child.
Friday, October 12th
Doctors say recall will affect parents
For years, Dr.
Deborah Greenhouse at Palmetto Pediatrics in Columbia has been telling
parents not to use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines on children
younger than 2 years old.
So have many other pediatricians, worried
about serious side effects when strong medicine is put in tiny bodies.
Despite the years of warnings from physicians, the withdrawal of those
products from store shelves will have a huge impact, Greenhouse said.
“Parents who have an infant that has a bad cold will do anything
to get them to sleep through the night,” Greenhouse said.
Those
desperate parents often turned to products such as Dimetapp Decongestant Plus
Cough Infant Drops and Tylenol Concentrated Cold Drops, either instead of
seeing a physician or before seeing one.
When parents tell
Greenhouse they are using cold products on their infants, she recommends
they stop and explains about the mounting evidence the drugs aren’t
effective and can cause serious problems. She suggests the safe alternatives
— saline nose drops and cool mist humidifiers.
Jody Yates, the
pharmacist at Long’s Drugstores on Kilbourne Road, said the infant cold
products Long’s carried either already were kept behind the counter or
were moved there Thursday.
The concern is not so much that the
medicines are not safe but that dosages are not administered correctly, Yates
said. This is why he recommends parents purchasing over-the-counter medicine
for young children consult a pharmacist to make sure they understand how much
medicine to administer.
The medicine in tiny bottles is concentrated,
so the recommended dosage could be very small, Yates said.
“Parents might see two little drops and not think it’s
enough,” Yates said.
— Joey Holleman and Ben Werner |
