When your child is sick, chances are you are eager to find the easiest and quickest treatment to help him or her feel better as soon as possible. Antibiotics can be useful tools for treating bacterial infections, but keep in mind that they aren’t always the best solution.

Knowing when antibiotics would be helpful to your child can help your little one feel better while also being responsible about their use. Read on to get the facts about antibiotics from our AFC Urgent Care Louisville team.

When Are Antibiotics Helpful?

Antibiotics are incredibly effective against bacterial infections. When you have an infection, it is important to know whether it is bacterial or viral. If it is viral, antibiotics will NOT be helpful and will not work against the infection. So, if your child has a cold or the flu, a different treatment will be required.

When your child gets a prescription for antibiotics, it’s important to take the entire round of medication, even if he or she begins feeling better. Antibiotics only work efficiently if they are allowed the time they need to kill off the entire infection.

Common Bacterial Infections

• Bladder infection
• Strep throat
• Ear or sinus infections
• Skin infections

How Can I Be Responsible With My Antibiotic Use?

By now, you are probably familiar with the term “antibiotic resistance.” Antibiotic resistance is the term used when certain bacterial infections are no longer treatable by the antibiotics that were developed to control them. This happens when they evolve to resist treatment or when antibiotics are overused.

Antibiotic resistance can start to create superinfections that are very hard to treat properly, so be responsible with their use and only give them to your child when prescribed by a medical provider.

Responsible Antibiotic Use for Your Child

• Follow all dosage requirements on the pill bottle.
• Get a medical provider’s opinion before obtaining a prescription.
• Never give your child someone else’s prescription.
• Never use old antibiotics left over from an old prescription.

Antibiotics are a great tool when used appropriately! If you think you need a prescription for a bacterial infection you have, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Louisville!