Miscellaneous Questions
What about antibiotics? When do you prescribe them?
I try to follow current guidelines in deciding when to recommend an antibiotic for your child.
It is well recognised that American doctors in particular over-prescribe antibiotics. For example, many doctors prescribe an antibiotic for what is really an uncomplicated viral illness.
Antibiotics don’t take away the green mucous of a cold, the cough of a viral bronchitis, or make the sore throat of a viral tonsil infection get better faster.
On the other hand, antibiotics can heal a child’s ear infection, strep throat or chronic runny nose and cough—if it is caused by sinusitis.
I will try to find out from your history, my exam, and sometimes use tests, too, to help figure out whether an antibiotic will help your child’s illness.
If an antibiotic doesn’t seem indicated, I will still make suggestions about pain medicine or other things you can do for your child while s/he is sick.
