How Should Antibiotics Be Used in Babies?

Since diseases increase with seasonal transitions, you may be wondering how many days antibiotic treatment lasts in infants, how many hours are antibiotics given, and whether they sleep. In this article, what are the situations in which the use of antibiotics in infants is necessary and inconvenient? What kind of side effects are seen and what needs to be paid attention to, we have covered all the details you need to know!

Are antibiotics used in babies?

In case of bacterial diseases, antibiotics can be used in infants with the recommendation of the doctor. You may also be wondering about the use of antibiotics in newborn babies, if the doctor deems it necessary, antibiotics are given. Do not forget that under normal conditions, the most natural antibiotic that protects babies from infection is breast milk. 

Today, the fact that there are many antibiotics for various diseases leads to the use of antibiotics in the treatment of common viral diseases such as colds and flu. Unnecessary use of antibiotics should be avoided as much as possible. 

What diseases are treated with antibiotics for babies?

Diseases consist of 2 types of microbes, viruses and bacteria. Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Izlem Göçmen says that there is no need to use antibiotics in viral infections caused by virus microbes. Antibiotic treatment is more common in infants;

• common ear infection
• some throat infections,
• pneumonia ,
• non-allergic bronchitis,
• infectious diarrhea,
• Sinusitis,
• It is used in diseases such as urinary tract infections. 

Sometimes, secondary bacterial infections may develop as the body’s resistance decreases during viral infections. In such cases, the doctor may follow the baby closely and start antibiotics.

Which antibiotics are used in babies?

Mothers can consult with other mothers about which antibiotic should be given to the child to cure his illness. This is a big mistake. You shouldn’t give the same antibiotic to your baby just because it worked for another child. Unconscious use of antibiotics can damage many tissues in the body. Only your doctor should decide whether you need to use antibiotics for your child’s illness and start treatment with the drugs he or she recommends. 

How often are antibiotics taken in infants?

It is important to use the drug in a timely manner, for the half-life of the antibiotic in the blood and for its effect. Since some antibiotics are effective for long hours, it is sufficient to use a single dose per day, while some may need to be taken 2-3 or 4 times a day. Your doctor will inform you about this.

How many days should antibiotics be used in infants?

You started antibiotics, you may wonder how many days antibiotic treatment in babies will take. In some diseases, it is sufficient to use the antibiotic for 3 days, while in others it may be necessary to use it for 10-14 days. In other words, the duration of antibiotic use in infants; It varies according to the type of disease, the type of drug and its effect.

Let’s say how many days neonatal antibiotic treatment lasts. Generally, an application between 7-10 days is preferred in the treatment. However, as we mentioned above, this is a situation that varies according to the effect of the drug.

The important thing here is the answer to the question of how many days the antibiotics will take effect in babies . You may notice improvement 2-3 days after giving your baby antibiotics. However, this is not a complete recovery. At this point, what you need to be careful about is not to use the antibiotic for a shorter time than your doctor recommends. Because if the treatment is not completed, it can lead to the disease not getting better and recurring.

Can antibiotics and antipyretics be given at the same time in babies?

Since fever in infants is mostly not of viral origin, you should not give your child multiple antibiotics. If the fever is caused by a disease and you are already taking antibiotics for it, you should not use extra antipyretic drugs. If you are using the antibiotic for a different reason, you can look for an answer to the question of how many hours should be between the antibiotic and the antipyretic. The first thing you should do is to lower your baby’s fever naturally. However, if there is a persistent fever that does not go down no matter what you do, you can set an interval of 4-6 hours.

Let’s underline it again: The medicines you give to your baby should be completely under the supervision of a doctor, so you should consult your doctor about any issue you suspect.

Do antibiotics make babies sleepy?

The side effects of antibiotics can vary from baby to baby. The answer to the question of whether antibiotics make babies sleepy, depends on the infection of the baby and the type of antibiotic used. So he may or may not.

Does antibiotics cause diarrhea in babies?

Unlike other drugs, antibiotics can have side effects that can affect the child’s later life. Antibiotics can kill harmful bacteria as well as beneficial bacteria living in the intestines. This can lead to deterioration in the intestinal flora, weakening of the digestive and immune systems. That’s why diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of antibiotic allergy in infants. Disturbances in the digestive system can cause side effects such as nausea and pain, as well as diarrhea.

If an antibiotic allergy causes diarrhea, you can prevent dehydration by breastfeeding your baby frequently. In this case , let’s tell you how long antibiotic diarrhea lasts in babies . Antibiotic diarrhea can last up to 1 week. However, if the condition worsens, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible.

How is antibiotic allergy in infants treated?

The most well-known antibiotics that cause allergic reactions are those of the penicillin group. Allergic reactions can cause sporadic or widespread rashes and serious reactions that can result in death.

Sometimes, the use of antibiotic injections in infants can lead to the development of serious allergic reactions. For this reason, you should definitely have antibiotics administered intramuscularly in a health institution and stay there for 1 hour against possible side effects. 

In case of a possible allergy, the doctor will cut off the antibiotic causing it and give it another equivalent medicine. He may also recommend a cream or medicine for rashes on the skin. Sometimes, an allergy to antibiotics can lead to serious reactions such as swelling of the tongue and throat and shortness of breath. In such a case, you should take your child to the hospital without wasting time.