How necessary is Antibiotic prescriptions for your children?
Whether it’s Penicillin, Tetracycline or any other form of antibiotic, these drugs are given widely to young children who visit the doctor for the common cold. What many parents may not know and understand are the effects of these antibiotics on their children’s immune systems. With the “sniffle” season on its way and many of my patients complaining of getting sick, this article features the dangers and efficiency of antibiotics in young children.
Colds and the flu have been around since the beginning of time. These bacteria and viruses get into our bodies when our defense mechanisms are down. This can happen when we are not taking good care of ourselves by not eating properly, drinking enough water, exercising, sleeping and of course the biggest one, stress! In children, as their immune systems are developing, getting sick is very natural and actually in most cases good for them as it helps to develop a strong immunity so that they can stay healthy as an adult. When the body has a bacteria to fight off, it will build up anti-bodies and immunoglobulins with memory cells so that not only does it fight the virus or bacteria, but it will have a memory cell to attack that virus if it ever tries to get into the body in the future. That is how immunity comes about! That is why, for instance, if a child gets Chicken Pox, they are immune to getting it again in their lifetime.
When antibiotics are taken, it helps to attack the bacteria but it does not work on viruses. That is why it is a good idea, to ask your doctor before taking antibiotics if they can do a culture to make sure that your child has a bacterial infection and not a virus strand. If it is, in fact a bacterial infection, then taking the antibiotic will help to kill the bacteria but this does not allow for the young child’s immune system to make those antibodies and memory cells! Over time, the body’s defense mechanisms become weakened and will only allow the child to get sick more frequently.
The other frightening issue in taking antibiotics is that it allows the bacteria to evolve as they try to fight the antibiotics causing stronger bugs to enter the population making the children sicker. The truth is, getting a cold or a flu is just a few days of seeing your child suffer as their immune systems get strong. After a few days, they will bounce back to themselves and forget about being sick as they grow and discover life’s endless beauty and possibilities.
Think twice and do your research before allowing your children to take antibiotics any time they get sick. It will allow them to be healthier as adults.
For more information on this subject, email me at drhaque [at] haquechiropractic [dot] com
