It would seem that everyone already knows that children's cough can have a variety of causes, including non-infectious ones. But at the same time, many mothers continue to use antibiotics for children for coughing on their own, without even realizing the danger that unreasonable use of such drugs may threaten the baby in the future. Let's figure it out together when and how you can and should give them to your child.
Antibiotic: Needed or Not?
The causes of childhood cough are very diverse, so it is rather difficult to classify them, and it is almost impossible to list them all. In most cases, they can be eliminated without the use of antibiotics, and only sometimes the medicine is really needed:
Physiological cough. A normal phenomenon in newborns and children up to 1.5-2 years old. A child at this age cannot independently cleanse the nasal passages and larynx from the mucus accumulating there, so the body does this reflexively with the help of a cough. Normally, the child clears his throat in the morning (without an attack!), And then coughs up once a day up to 15-20 times. You don't need to do anything with this type of cough - it goes away with age.- Too dry and hot air causes the mucous membranes of the nose to dry out and form crusts on them. If they are not removed in time, then they clog the nasal passages. It becomes difficult for the baby to breathe, and he compensates for the lack of oxygen by breathing through the mouth. So the mucous throats dry out and irritate, and a dry cough begins, which can even be paroxysmal. This cough goes away quickly if you just clear your nose and give your child warm water.
- Chronic diseases of the nose. Basically, these are all types of rhinitis and sinusitis. They lead to irritation and inflammation of the back wall of the larynx due to the viscous mucus constantly flowing down it. The result is pain and sore throat, aggravated at night or in the morning cough. You can get rid of such a cough only by curing the underlying disease, since in this case it is only a symptom. Antibiotics can help solve the problem.
- Physical or chemical irritants. They provoke a reflex cough, with the help of which the body tries to get rid of the negative effects. It can be polluted dusty air, smoke (especially tobacco, even old!), Strong odors, chemical fumes. This also includes a foreign body trapped in the respiratory tract, which provokes a sudden and very strong attack of coughing. With severe irritation of the mucous membranes, it takes some time for it to completely disappear, during which the baby can cough.
Physiological cough. A normal phenomenon in newborns and children up to 1.5-2 years old. A child at this age cannot independently cleanse the nasal passages and larynx from the mucus accumulating there, so the body does this reflexively with the help of a cough. Normally, the child clears his throat in the morning (without an attack!), And then coughs up once a day up to 15-20 times. You don't need to do anything with this type of cough - it goes away with age.Therefore, if the child suddenly coughed sharply, the first step is to examine the mouth and nose. Usually, after the negative effects of external factors are eliminated, the cough immediately goes away.
- Allergic reactions. An allergic cough is usually recognizable. It is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of allergies: swelling of the mucous membranes,
copious transparent discharge, shortness of breath, sometimes - skin redness and / or rashes. It is edema that provokes an allergic cough, due to which the child feels a lack of oxygen. With the help of a cough, the body tries to expand the lumen of the larynx and provide additional air flow. You can quickly remove such a cough only with the help of antihistamines, which must be in every home medicine cabinet. - Broncho-pulmonary diseases: pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis, bronchial asthma, etc. These are diseases that are difficult to treat and are accompanied by a constant cough. Giving antibiotics to children with this type of cough is not only useless, but also risky - they can provoke an exacerbation. Usually, parents are aware of similar diseases in their children. But if the disease is already present but has not yet been diagnosed, the unauthorized use of antibiotics can complicate matters greatly.
- Cold cough. Using antibiotics for coughs for children in case of a common cold is deliberately reducing the effectiveness of the baby's immune defenses. The body must be able to cope with such diseases on its own, so it must be given a chance to at least try to do it. If a cough appears after hypothermia, a sharp change in climate, etc., the child does not have too high a temperature, and green snot does not flow from the nose, you must first of all use folk remedies: warming up, rinsing, burying the nose with vegetable juices. If the condition continues to deteriorate, consult a doctor. Only a pediatrician can decide on the prescription of antibiotics.
- ARVI. The most common cause of cough in children. A viral infection can cause a sharp rise in temperature, reddening of the throat and a severe cough. And many mothers react to this with the decision to give the child an antibiotic, which in this case is completely useless. Viruses and bacteria are different microorganisms, so different types of drugs are used to eliminate them. In such a situation, it is correct to apply the antiviral agent "Amizon", "Nazoferon", "Interferon". You can strengthen the immune defense with the help of immunomodulators "Immuneks", "Immunal" and others. Or you can solder your baby with herbal teas with honey.
Bacterial infections. This is when antibiotics are really needed for coughing in children. But it is possible to determine the presence of bacteria in a child's body only with the help of laboratory tests, during which at the same time the sensitivity of bacteria to various types of drugs is checked. Indirectly, the bacterial component is indicated by a high temperature and snot of yellow or green color (often with a purulent odor). The test data will help the doctor choose the most appropriate drug with minimal side effects.
copious transparent discharge, shortness of breath, sometimes - skin redness and / or rashes. It is edema that provokes an allergic cough, due to which the child feels a lack of oxygen. With the help of a cough, the body tries to expand the lumen of the larynx and provide additional air flow. You can quickly remove such a cough only with the help of antihistamines, which must be in every home medicine cabinet.
Bacterial infections. This is when antibiotics are really needed for coughing in children. But it is possible to determine the presence of bacteria in a child's body only with the help of laboratory tests, during which at the same time the sensitivity of bacteria to various types of drugs is checked. Indirectly, the bacterial component is indicated by a high temperature and snot of yellow or green color (often with a purulent odor). The test data will help the doctor choose the most appropriate drug with minimal side effects.As you can see, most of the causes of children's cough can be eliminated without the use of antibiotics. And even a high temperature is not a sufficient reason to give them to a child without a doctor's prescription. To combat it, there are anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs: Paracetamol, Panadol, Ibuprofen, etc.
Features of the use of antibiotics
But even if, based on the results of the examination and analyzes, the doctor prescribed antibiotics to the child, it is necessary to take into account some of the rules and peculiarities of their use in children:
- try to choose the form of syrup - it is easier to digest and does not so aggressively affect the digestive tract;
- strictly observe the dosage and admission rules - a certain concentration of the drug in the blood must be maintained constantly;
- if the antibiotic intake was missed for any of the reasons, it cannot be compensated for with an additional dose;
- only a doctor can adjust the dosage and determine the duration of antibiotic use;
- give the child as much water as possible - it will help the drug to absorb faster, and the body to get rid of the decay products of the drug;
- milk can weaken the effect of the antibiotic, so ask your doctor how long after taking the medicine you can drink it;
the first dose of the antibiotic should be minimal, as some of them provoke severe allergic reactions;- if the child has an allergy, it is necessary to give him an antihistamine, stop taking the medicine and notify the doctor about it, who will prescribe another drug.
the first dose of the antibiotic should be minimal, as some of them provoke severe allergic reactions;Since the antibiotic does not affect the cough itself, but on pathogenic microorganisms, it is used only as part of a comprehensive treatment. Along with it can be prescribed: antihistamines, vasoconstrictor, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antipyretic, immunomodulating, restorative drugs.
Depending on the underlying disease that provoked the cough, warming procedures, rinsing, inhalation and other types of therapy may be recommended.
It helps well with bronchitis or pneumonia (with a wet cough), drainage massage, which promotes the separation and discharge of viscous sputum.
Possible appointments
Below is a list of antibacterial drugs that are often given to children for various types of cough. But it is published solely for information purposes and in no case can be taken as a guide to action. Only a doctor can prescribe antibiotics for a child's cough!
- ARI, ARVI, complications after a cold are usually treated with drugs of the penicillin group: "Amoxil", "Amoxicillin", "Augmentin", etc .;
- bronchitis, tracheitis, pleurisy respond well to treatment with drugs of the cephalosporin series: "Cephalosporin", "Zinacef", etc .;
- pneumonia requires stronger combined drugs: Zinacef, Suprax and analogues;
- SARS is provoked by a fungal infection and can be treated with Sumamed or Hemamycin.
But there are also a number of drugs that in no case should be prescribed to children under 8 years old, and some up to 12-14 years old. This is due to the fact that up to the age of 8, the active formation of internal organs and systems is still ongoing, and some antibiotics can have an extremely negative effect on this. The use of antibiotics is especially dangerous in the first year of a baby's life.
So, when taking "Levomycetin", the child rapidly develops anemia, and the internal organs suffer from oxygen starvation, which can cause serious chronic diseases. Preparations of the tetracycline group are especially dangerous during the period of active tooth replacement - they disrupt the formation of enamel, and in the future the teeth will begin to deteriorate rapidly. "Ofloxacin" and its analogs lead to pathological changes in the cartilage tissue, which means they provoke joint damage and problems with the spine. Maral gel
It is important to understand that you cannot give a "child" antibiotic for coughing, since such drugs simply do not exist. Children are treated with the same treatments as adults, simply by adjusting the dosage.
And if not all adults tolerate their side effects without problems, then imagine what destructive force the drugs inflict on the child's body. Yes, they are able to quickly solve the problem. But after the use of such "heavy artillery", the child's body will recover for several more weeks.
A qualified pediatrician must consider many factors before choosing an antibiotic for a child. And more and more doctors are inclined to believe that such drugs should be used only in extreme cases, when other methods of treatment are ineffective, or the disease poses a threat to the child's life. Moreover, if you wish, you can very often get rid of a cough by strengthening the immune system and traditional methods of treatment.
