Allexperts Answer

My Question:
Hello Doctor,

I am Sudha from Chennai and this is regarding my 5year old daughter. 

She frequently gets cold n cough. Most of the times, with just Citrezine syrup, she is not getting cured. So I give her antibiotics also along with it. Azithromysin or amoxyline etc for 5 days, twice a day.

My doubt is is it harmful or not advisable to give anti-biotics frequently? Say I gave antibiotics last month for 5 days and again this month she got cold and can I give her antibiotics again this month?

Please advice.

Thanks

Doctor's reply:
Hi Sudha,

Yes, unnecessary use of ANY medicine, including antibiotics, should always be avoided as it does more harm than good.

Most cold and coughs in children are viral, and antibiotics have NO ROLE in viral infections. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics everytime the child has cough and cold, I would strongly advise to look for a better doctor in your area, since the doctor is not doing justice to your child. 

IF, on the other hand, you are using antibiotics on your own without consulting a doctor, then I am sorry, you are not doing justice to the little one who has no choice but to trust you. You breach this trust everytime you give ANY medicine (including cough and cold medicines which are schedule "H" drugs: to be taken strictly under medical supervision) to the little one without consulting a doctor... (I have purposely said all this since I often see antibiotics and even cough and cold medicines taken very lightly by parents...it's great to hear from parents like you who have raised such an important question)


Best wishes,
Dr. Puneet Kumar,
Kumar Child Clinic, Dwarka,
New Delhi, India