ANTIBIOTICS
By Theresa Kump
Most of us take antibiotics for granted. These effective medicines are commonly used to subdue everything from ear infections to life-threatening diseases. But the overuse--and misuse--of antibiotics has helped contribute to an alarming increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. In fact, the World Health Organization states that we are facing an infectious disease crisis--a future where it may be difficult to treat many forms of bacterial infections.
The following dos and don'ts will help you make the most of your child's antibiotic treatment.

Don't demand antibiotics. If your pediatrician says your child doesn't need antibiotics, accept the diagnosis. Treat your child's symptoms with the pain reliever or other symptom-relieving medicine your pediatrician suggests, and keep your child home so she can get the rest she needs to feel better.
Don't use antibiotics for viral infections. These include common colds, and most coughs and sore throats.
Do read the label. Antibiotics should be stored and given as directed. Improper storage--forgetting to refrigerate a medicine that must be kept cold, for example--can make an antibiotic less effective.

Don't let your child skip a dose. When a dose is missed, the level of antibiotic in the body drops, allowing the disease-carrying bacteria to recover. Doubling up later won't help, so do whatever you can--set an alarm, put a chart on your refrigerator door--to remember to give your child the medicine as prescribed.

Don't stop too soon. Make sure your child takes all his medicine. Don't let him stop taking an antibiotic when symptoms disappear. The prescription must be finished as directed by your pediatrician to keep bacteria from regaining a foothold and the illness from returning.

Don't continue if allergic reactions occur. Stop giving your child any antibiotic that causes hives, puffy lips, or difficulty breathing and call your pediatrician immediately.
Do contact the pediatrician if symptoms persist. If the antibiotic prescribed for your child doesn't seem to be helping, the "bug" that's making him sick may be a virus or bacteria that's resistant to the antibiotic, and a different one may be needed.

Don't stockpile antibiotics. When a course of antibiotics has been completed, there should be none left over. If you do have any remaining medicine, make sure to throw it away. Different bacteria are sensitive to different antibiotics, so there's no point in saving leftover medicine for future illnesses. Also, never use antibiotics prescribed for someone else to treat a child.

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