Antibiotics for children with cough and runny nose

What are antibiotics

Antibiotics or antibacterial drugs are drugs that inhibit the development and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and are capable of destroying them. Antibiotics are natural and synthetic.

Natural ones are those found in medicinal plants, fungi or bacteria. The most common and well-known are penicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin. They have sufficient effectiveness, but sometimes their properties are not enough. To treat severe diseases and serious conditions, synthetic antibacterial agents are required, which are created by pharmaceutical companies.

Antibiotics are also contained in small concentrations in some plants used for treatment with traditional methods, but their concentration is enough to slightly alleviate the child’s condition, for example, reduce a high fever with raspberry tea.

Why suspension?

Antibiotics are available in the form of tablets, injections, and suspensions. Injections are used for intramuscular injections, tablets are for oral use. But what if the child is too young to swallow a pill, but you don’t want to give the baby injections, so as not to cause him unnecessary discomfort, stress and unpleasant sensations. Medicines in suspensions will come to the rescue.

A suspension is a mixture of powder dissolved in a liquid. Solid antibacterial agents are ground in a pharmaceutical factory and packaged in bottles. They have different dosages, which is very important and especially convenient for mothers who need to calculate how much medicine to give to their child. If the baby is very small, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic in suspension with a small dosage. If the child is older and his daily dose is much higher than that of a small child, it is better for him to take the drug in a larger dosage.

For example, the drug has dosages of 100, 250, 500 and 100 mg. The child needs to take an antibiotic per day in a daily dosage of 500 mg. Let's say it's 3 tablespoons. This means that if the mother gives him a tablespoon of the suspension 3 times a day, then the child will receive his 500 mg per day. You can take the medicine in a dosage of 100 mg, but then the daily dosage in the same tablespoons will be not 3, but 15! Is it conceivable for a child to take 5 tablespoons of the suspension at a time? Of course not. And in financial terms, it is more economically profitable to buy an antibiotic with a higher dosage than with a smaller one, despite the fact that a 100 mg bottle will be slightly cheaper than a 500 mg bottle. Therefore, compliance with the dosage is very important.

It doesn't really matter in what form you take the antibiotic. Sometimes it is actually easier for a child to swallow a pill or drink an unpleasant-tasting liquid. However, if we are talking about very young children, then the suspension is best suited for their treatment.

Which form to choose

Children under 3 years of age are recommended to be given a children's cough antibiotic in the form of a suspension or syrup at home. This allows treatment to be carried out in a comfortable environment.

Manufacturers make syrups with a pleasant taste. When buying a medicine prescribed by a doctor to treat a small child, you need to keep in mind that suspensions come in several forms. Different dosages are sold in packages with the same name, and choosing the right drug is very important for the outcome of the treatment. The choice of antibacterial agent depends on the single dose that the baby should take.

The suspension is released in dry form, in hermetically sealed bottles. They have special lids that are difficult for children to open. The powder is diluted with water according to the instructions and taken for 3-5 days at regular intervals. The remains of the finished form after treatment are destroyed, because the drug after this period loses its beneficial properties.

"Sumamed" is a children's antibiotic for coughs and runny noses in the form of a suspension, active against staphylococci and streptococci. It belongs to the group of macrolides, which are safer for young patients. This is a frequently recommended medication for babies older than 6 months.

Its use allows you to suppress acute and chronic diseases in which there is a cough syndrome:

• sinusitis;
• pharyngitis;
• unspecified tonsillitis;
• various infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract;
• unspecified pneumonia;
• bronchitis.

The drug comes with instructions written for specialists, with a large number of formulations that are poorly understood by the average person. Before buying a medicine, you need to ask your doctor about all the details of treatment with this medicine.

"Macropen" is a children's cough syrup with an antibiotic. It also belongs to the macrolide group of antimicrobial drugs. Helps children who have diseases such as:

• whooping cough;
• upper respiratory tract infections;
• unspecified pneumonia;
• chronic sinusitis;
• inflammatory processes in the tonsils and adenoids;
• Chronical bronchitis.

Doses are described in detail in the instructions for use. They depend on body weight. The medicine has a pleasant taste and color and is well tolerated by children.

"Augmentin" in the form of a suspension for children is available in 3 types. The required form is purchased on the recommendation of a doctor. This drug contains the active substances amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, which enhances the effect of a semisynthetic drug belonging to the penicillin group.

It is recommended for streptococcal and some other infections that affect the baby’s respiratory system. The drug can be effective for acute and chronic diseases affecting the upper or lower parts of the respiratory system.

"Suprax" is an antibiotic from the cephalosporin group. It is recommended by a pediatrician only when the macrolide is powerless against infection. It should not be purchased for self-medication, so as not to cause the emergence of microflora resistant to it. The manufacturer makes several forms of this drug. To treat babies after 6 months, a suspension is used; school-age children can be given tablets of the same name.

How to prepare a suspension: instructions

It is very simple to prepare a suspension from a drug purchased at a pharmacy. Each package contains instructions along with the bottle, according to which you can easily prepare the mixture for treatment.

On the bottle with the drug powder there is a little graphic located closer to the neck. At this mark you need to pour liquid into the bottle to dilute the powder. It is best to use boiled, chilled water. You cannot pour boiling water into the antibiotic, as this may worsen its properties. But in order for the suspension to acquire a uniform consistency, it is not recommended to pour in the entire volume of liquid at once.

First, pour a third of the total volume of water into the bottle, screw the lid on the bottle and shake the contents well. Then add another third of the water and repeat the manipulations. This is necessary so that there are no lumps left in the mixture. After this, it remains to add the remaining volume of liquid. The prepared suspension should be stored in the refrigerator, and before use, slightly warm the bottle in a cup of warm water.

Antibiotics in suspension for infants

Most often, mothers worry about their child up to one year old and try to protect them from infections and various medications. Therefore, the need to take antibiotics in infancy is a subject of fierce debate between mothers and pediatricians.

For small infants under one year of age, the range of antibiotics is narrowed. At this time, the body is still weakened, the immune system is not fully formed, and there are enough problems with the intestines even without antibiotics.

Of course, such drugs affect the intestinal microflora and reduce immunity. However, in some cases, serious infections cannot be treated without antibiotics. The infection can be life-threatening for the child, and the mother, when refusing treatment, must be aware of this.

The doctor prescribes the drug in the form of a suspension and, as a rule, prescribes a probiotic at the same time.

But even in this case, dysbiosis can appear. You should not interrupt the course of treatment without a doctor’s recommendation, as this can only worsen the course of the disease. The infection may return, but with immunity to the antibiotic. The doctor will have to select a new drug and prescribe treatment again.

Most medications are contraindicated for infants under 6 months of age. There are several suspensions that are relatively safe for a child at this age. These are Amoxiclav, Amoxicillin, Sumamed. Small children should not be given antibiotics from the Tetracycline group. They affect the formation of tooth enamel. As a result, the child’s teeth initially grow weak.

Video - Antibiotics for children: prescription and proper use.

There is no need to interrupt breastfeeding if your baby is taking antibiotics. On the contrary, breast milk will strengthen his body and help cope with both infection and dysbiosis.

An infant can only be given an antibiotic in the form of a suspension, but not in the form of tablets or injections. Only a doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to an infant. If you decide to treat a child with such drugs, you cannot interrupt the course of treatment or increase the dosage yourself. If the drug is ineffective, the doctor will change it to another, but the dosage must be age-appropriate. The mother must follow a schedule for taking the drug so that the level of the substance in the blood is maintained at a constant level, only then the child can recover faster.

When antibiotics are ineffective

Not all diseases can be treated with antibacterial agents. The very name of the group of drugs contains the answer to the question of which pathogens the antibiotic can cope with. The antibacterial agent effectively fights bacteria. But, unfortunately, it is useless against viruses, toxins and other microorganisms. Therefore, when prescribing an antibiotic, it is important to understand what is the causative agent of a particular disease and when an antibiotic is needed. Antibiotics combat exclusively the activity of simple microorganisms, bacteria.

Antibiotics are ineffective in the following cases:

• diphtheria, botulism, tetanus - the causative agent is toxic substances;
• fungal diseases - fungal spores are insensitive to antibiotics;
• sinusitis, inflammatory diseases of the bronchial mucosa - pathogens are viruses;
• inflammation of the throat, nose, ears - the causative agents are viruses;
• other viral diseases: influenza, hepatitis, herpes, chickenpox, rubella, measles, etc.

Typically, almost all childhood diseases occur due to a virus entering the body. The child develops a fever, a red and sore throat, and a runny nose (usually clear fluid from the nose). If you call your doctor at this time, he will prescribe:

• antiviral drugs;
• means for strengthening the body's defenses (for immunity);
• medications for treating the throat in the form of lozenges, sprays or other treatments;
• drinking plenty of fluids helps the body quickly remove viruses naturally;
• If the temperature rises to critical levels, antipyretics will be prescribed.

When are antibiotics prescribed for a cough?

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Which antibiotic is better for a child with a sore throat?

If you or your doctor notice pustules in your child’s throat, it means a sore throat. There are different types of sore throats: catarrhal, purulent, follicular, lacunar and others. A doctor must diagnose diseases and prescribe antibiotics.

It is important to understand that antibiotics for sore throat are an important element of therapy. Some parents are afraid to give their children antibacterial agents so as not to disturb the intestinal microflora. But sore throat is one of those diseases that, without appropriate treatment, causes enormous harm to the child’s body, and refusal of antibiotics in this case is criminal negligence.

For angina, children are prescribed antibiotics of the penicillin, macrolide and cephalosporin series.

The most common penicillin antibiotics for use in angina are represented by the following drugs.

1. Amoxicillin (Amosin, Amokson, Amoxil, Flemoxin Solutab)
2. Amoxicillin with clavulonic acid (Augmentin, Medoclav, Amoxiclav, Flemoklav)
3. Grasimol
4. Ospamox

These antibiotics are used when the causative agent of the disease is streptococcus; the doctor will advise which drug to choose from this wide list, based on test results, laboratory tests, the general condition of the child, his medical history and other important factors. Sometimes children may experience an allergic reaction to penicillin and its derivatives.

The most common macrolide antibiotics for use in angina are represented by the following drugs.

1. Azithromycin (Azitro-Sandoz, Hemomycin, Sumamed)
2. Ormax
3. Azimed
4. Erythromycin

Macrolides are prescribed to those children who are intolerant to penicillin drugs. They are effective, fast-acting, and due to their ability to accumulate exactly in the place where the inflammation is smoldering, they give therapeutic results in the shortest possible time.

Medium antibiotics should be chosen from the cephalosporin group for angina.

1. Cefadox, Ceftriaxone
2. Doktsef
3. Cefixime, Cefotaxime

They are effective in the treatment of bacterial diseases of the throat and nasopharynx; they are used when a child has intolerance to penicillin antibiotics.

Antibiotic for coughs for children: how to choose from the abundance of options?

A child’s cough is always a headache for the mother, especially if it is accompanied by a runny nose and fever. As a rule, the doctor does not carry out antibiotic therapy immediately, observing the development of the infection.

But if the baby gets worse, the temperature does not subside, and wheezing is heard when listening to breathing, an antibiotic for coughing for children is prescribed.

There are several groups of drugs:

1. Penicillin group. These drugs are prescribed for persistent severe cough in children. They cause the least harm to the body, since the main active ingredient affects only the walls of bacteria. The list can include names such as Amoxiclav, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, etc.
2. A group of macrolide drugs. They stop the process of bacterial reproduction and destroy proteins in pathogen cells. These include Sumamed, Hemomycin, Macropen, Aksetin, etc.
3. Group of cephalosporins. These drugs inhibit the growth and reproduction of infectious agents by damaging their cell membranes. The names of children's products include Suprax, Cefazolin, Ixim, Tsifaleksin, etc.

A broad-spectrum drug based on amoxicillin. As you know, penicillin has been used for decades, so during this time many bacteria have developed resistance to it. Its effect is enhanced by clavulanic acid, which has its own antibacterial activity. This antibiotic can be in the form of powder for suspension and lyophilized powder for injection.

The latter is used in a hospital setting, and the tablets are not intended for children. Amoxiclav is active against many aerobic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and is easily tolerated by children, but the finished suspension cannot be stored in the refrigerator for longer than 7 days.

Instructions for use of syrup:

• For newborns and babies up to 3 months, the drug is given with a special measuring pipette or spoon at the rate of 30 mg of the drug for cough and fever per 1 kg of weight 2 times a day;
• for children over 90 days, the dose varies between 20-40 mg/kg, depending on the severity of the disease.

The maximum permissible daily dose of Amoxicillin, a pediatric antibiotic for dry cough, is 45 mg/kg body weight.

Contraindications include impaired liver function or cholestatic jaundice, which were previously observed when taking this pediatric antibiotic for cough. Treatment is not recommended for infectious mononucleosis and lymphocytic leukemia. The same applies to persons with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and antibiotics of the penicillin group. Of course, the downside of the suspension is that it does not last long. But as practice shows, during treatment the baby manages to drink the entire bottle. This is very convenient, because small children are not yet able to swallow a tablet, and the liquid can be easily drunk.

Those who are interested in what antibiotic to give a child for a cough should pay attention to the drug, the main active ingredient of which is azithromycin dihydrate.

It is characterized by a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action, and the mechanism is the suppression of microbial protein synthesis. Under its influence, the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, which include gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, anaerobes, intracellular organisms, etc., slows down.

Summamed also comes in the form of tablets, capsules, powder for preparing a suspension, and lyophilisate for preparing a solution for droppers. For children with a cough and fever, this antibiotic is given in the form of a powder, diluted with water according to the instructions, using a syringe or measuring spoon.

Calculation of the drug when prescribed in the amount of 10 mg/kg:

• for children weighing 5 kg, the syrup dosage is 2.5 ml or 50 mg;
• 6 kg – 3 ml or 60 mg;
• 7 kg – 3.5 ml or 70 mg, etc. up to 10 kg.

This applies to children in the age group from six months to 3 years. For the age category from 3 to 12 years with a body weight less than 45 kg, the dosage is different. You can give antibiotic cough syrup to children at a rate of 10 mg/kg body weight. When deciding which antibiotics to give to children when they cough, you must remember that to obtain 20 ml of suspension, you need to add 12 ml of water to the powder and shake well.

The finished composition is also not stored in the refrigerator for a long time and this is its disadvantage, but Summamed also has one undeniable advantage - it is given only once a day an hour before or 2 hours after a meal, and the course of treatment is within 3 days, although In some cases, the doctor may extend it to 5 days.

Contraindications include hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and macrolide antibiotics. This name of the drug for children should be blacklisted by those parents whose children suffer from severe disorders of the liver and kidneys or have not reached the age of 6 months. You cannot treat with this drug if you have a severe cough together with Ergotamine and Dihydroergotamine.

What other means can be given?

Suprax is a semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic.

The main active ingredient is cefixime, which inhibits the main component of the cell wall of the pathogenic microorganism. This is a new generation drug that is resistant to beta-lactomases.

We are talking about bacterial enzymes that can destroy the antibiotic and make it ineffective. The medicine kills various streptococci, E. coli, Proteus, salmonella, gonococci, staphylococci, etc.

This antibiotic, prescribed for coughs, can be in the form of capsules or granules for suspension. The latter are prescribed to children aged from 6 months to 12 years.

Treatment is carried out according to the following instructions:

• for children from 6 months to a year, the product is given 2.5-4 ml;
• in the age category from 2 to 4 years, the dose of syrup is increased to 5 ml;
• from 5 to 11 years it is 6-10 ml.

When thinking about which antibiotic to choose for a cough, you should remember that Suprax is diluted with 40 ml of cool water in 2 stages, shaking the contents of the bottle well each time. It is prescribed for severe cough and runny nose, no matter whether dry or wet. It is important that it is able to cope with fairly aggressive pathogens. It is also often used in step therapy, starting treatment with 3rd generation cephalosporins and ending with a drug called Suprax.

Contraindications include intolerance to the components of the drug and antibiotics of the cephalosporin and penicillin group. Use with caution in babies with chronic renal failure and do not give to children under 6 months.

Now it has become more or less clear which drug is best to give to a child for a dry or wet cough. But in any case, given the harm it can cause to the body, it is better to first consult a doctor.

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Antibiotic for children with cough and runny nose

Cough and runny nose are most often the result of the activity of pathogenic microorganisms that have settled on the mucous membranes of the nose and nasopharynx. Usually, for such diseases, the doctor does not prescribe antibiotics to the child, but uses antiviral supportive and restorative therapy. But sometimes it is not enough.

By releasing toxins into the blood, pathogenic microorganisms reduce the body's resistance to viruses and microbes, and lead to a protracted form of the disease, a complication of which can be the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis and other bacterial complications. In this case, antibiotics must be prescribed.

The most common antibacterial drugs that a doctor can prescribe to a child for a cough and runny nose are:

1. Amoxiclav
2. Augmentin
3. Flemoxin Solutab

They are used for dry barking and wet coughs, when sputum is not released from the bronchi and lungs. In this case, antibiotics protect the airways from the development of an inflammatory process. In addition to these medications, the child needs medications that thin and remove mucus.

Cephalosporins (Cefataxime, Cefuroxime and others) can be prescribed to a child for cough and runny nose if he has already been treated with penicillins no later than 3 months ago, as well as if penicillins are intolerant or if their use is ineffective.

Macrolide antibiotics are also prescribed to children for persistent coughs and runny noses. This includes:

1. Azithromycin
2. Sumamed
3. Clarithromycin

Indications for use and use are similar to the previous groups of drugs.

When are antimicrobials needed?

Often, the treatment of the disease can be done without taking antibacterial drugs. When a symptom is caused by mechanical irritation of the upper respiratory tract, it goes away after proper comprehensive treatment. In cases of damage to the respiratory system, an antibiotic of a narrow focus is often needed, which will be active against the group of pathogenic microflora that caused the disease. There are cases when a child prone to allergic reactions needs a drug with an antibacterial agent suitable for his body.

Acute viral infections at the onset of the disease are rarely accompanied by a cough. It appears on days 3-5 and can go away after using mucolytic and expectorant drugs. The main task of parents is to give those cough medications recommended by the pediatrician. They must match the type of cough.

Children's antibiotics for ARVI and cough are prescribed after the acute process has passed and the temperature has subsided. A dry barking cough that appeared at this time, accompanied by a new rise in temperature, requires treatment only in a hospital setting.

If a child has an acute onset of illness, the symptoms of which cannot be alleviated at home, parents are offered hospitalization in the infectious diseases department of the hospital. There they immediately begin to give injections of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. This is done in order to suppress pathogenic processes in the child’s body, regardless of the cause of the disease.

If a child has taken prescribed cough medications for a week, but such treatment was ineffective, the doctor, after examination, may decide to start antibacterial therapy.

A weakened immune system in children during the cold season can cause sluggish infectious diseases. In this case, children may have a slight sore throat, a runny nose, and then a cough that will last for a long time. In this case, a children's antibiotic for cough and runny nose may be useful if the doctor prescribes a remedy that can suppress the pathogenic microflora that causes these symptoms.

What antibiotics should not be given to children?

Not all antibiotics are prescribed to children. For example, drugs from the aminoglycoside group have a number of side effects, one of which is complications on the hearing organs and kidneys. Before a child reaches 8 years of age, it is prohibited to use drugs of the tetracycline group. They negatively affect the condition of tooth enamel and bone tissue.

Levomycetin is dangerous for children by developing aplastic anemia. Fluorinated quinolones (pefloxacin, ofloxacin) negatively affect the condition of cartilage tissue in children.

In any case, the antibacterial drug must be prescribed by the attending physician so as not to have any negative consequences or complications on the child’s body.

Antibiotics in the form of tablets for children against cough

Flemoxin Solutab

The drug Flemoxin Solutab for the treatment of cough in children

It belongs to the amoxicillin group and is usually prescribed for three years, when the child can already swallow a tablet normally. Since the medicine has a pronounced bitter taste, it can be crushed and mixed with juice. There are no classical dosages for the drug, since the weight of the child, the complication of cough and the tolerability of amoxicillin play a big role. You should not use Flemoxin Solutab if your cough is associated with a sore throat or allergy.

Biseptol

The drug Biseptol

An antibiotic that is traditionally prescribed from the age of four, but in case of significant complications it can be used in children aged two years. From two to five years, the doctor prescribes 120 mg of the active substance twice a day, it is advisable to take Biseptol after meals, washing down the tablets with a small amount of water. From six to 12 years of age, patients drink a dosage of 240 mg of antibiotic, also twice a day. The duration of therapy depends on the patient's condition, but cannot last more than ten days.

Amoxil

Amoxil

These tablets are used from three years of age. Young patients are prescribed 375 mg twice a day or 250 mg three times a day. In such dosages, the drug is taken for up to 10 years. After this age, the dose of the drug is increased to 500-750 mg twice a day. If necessary, the dosage is adjusted, but only downward. You can continue treatment according to the given regimen for one week. If the required therapeutic effect has not been achieved in seven days, but there are clear positive changes, the duration of therapy can be extended to 14 days.

Attention! Since taking oral antibiotics has a negative effect on the stomach, it is worth taking medications with probiotics during treatment.