Many parents have a fear of antibiotics, while others believe that this is the best medicine and independently prescribe them to their children for various diseases, especially when it comes to a protracted illness. With sore throat in children, antibiotics are sometimes the best way out. However, it should be remembered that they are not used for all types of this disease. Only a narrow profile doctor - an ENT or a pediatrician - should decide whether a child should take antibiotics. Incorrect prescription can harm the he alth of the child.
What kind of sore throat do we treat?
Another name for angina is acute tonsillitis. This disease is an infectious-inflammatory process that occurs in the palatine tonsils of the pharyngeal ring. Another popular name for this disease is inflammation of the tonsils.
Meanwhile, this common name hides four types of tonsillitis, which differ in local changes in the pharynx. That is why the answer to frequent questions from parents about whether it is necessary for a child to drink with anginaantibiotics, depends on what type of disease is diagnosed. For some types, antibiotics are not only unnecessary, but can be harmful.
- Catarrhal. It is characterized by an increase in the palatine arches and tonsils, as well as their redness, enlargement and swelling.
- Follicular. This type of angina is characterized by symptoms of a catarrhal form. However, reddened and swollen tonsils have, among other things, small yellowish pustules.
- Ulcerative membranous. The surface of the tonsil is covered with an easily removable very thin and delicate film, after the removal of which ulcers open.
- Lacunar. In the recesses of the tonsils (lacunae), pus begins to accumulate.
General symptoms
Despite local differences, for any type of sore throat, symptoms such as:
- swelling and redness of the temples and tonsils;
- fever;
- soreness and enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes;
- symptoms of intoxication;
- pain when swallowing.
Pathogens
The cause of angina can be different pathogens: spirochetes, fungi, viruses and bacteria. That is why antibiotics for sore throats in children are not always used.
Quite often, angina is the result of viral infections: enterovirus, herpetic, adenovirus. In this case, antibiotics will not bring absolutely no benefit, and treatment is carried out with antiviral drugs. Moreover, taking antibiotics in this case cancause a decrease in immunity, which will lead to a deterioration in the condition.
For young children, effective antibiotics for sore throats can also be prescribed to fight a secondary infection, even if the sore throat itself is caused by a virus.
Angina caused by fungi is also not treated with antibiotics. In this case, they most often only aggravate the situation.
For the treatment of bacterial tonsillitis in children, antibiotics are required. Usually they are prescribed by a doctor. Streptococci are a typical causative agent of this type of sore throat. However, palatine tonsils can affect both staphylococci and even pneumococci, but such cases are rare.
Most often, streptococci cause follicular tonsillitis, which most people know as "purulent". Since the causative agent of this type of disease is bacteria, it is better to give a child with purulent tonsillitis an antibiotic. Which pathogens caused acute tonsillitis, only a doctor can figure it out, so it is so important not to self-medicate.
Viral angina
If acute tonsillitis is of viral origin and is caused by enterovirus, herpetic or adenovirus infection, then antiviral drugs are prescribed instead of antibiotics. The doctor, even at the initial examination, in most cases can distinguish this type of angina by the following signs:
- There is no plaque on the tonsils, there is only bright redness and swelling of the tonsils.
- Herpetic sore throat implies the presence of small bubbles containing a clear liquid on the mucous membranes of the mouth and on the tonsils. opening upthey expose small sores.
Also, viral tonsillitis has previous or concomitant symptoms of rhinopharyngoconjunctivitis:
- dry cough;
- runny nose;
- lacrimation.
Bacterial angina begins with fever, and the list of accompanying symptoms can include intoxication and local symptoms such as plaque on the tonsils and sore throat.
Treatment
As a rule, angina does not require hospitalization, and treatment is carried out at home. A sick child should be provided with individual household items: dishes, towels, bed linen. Otherwise, other family members may become infected. Also, the room must be ventilated two to three times a day and wet cleaned.
How much a child should drink an antibiotic for angina - usually the doctor decides. However, most often, if the drug is prescribed, then a full course is carried out. This is the nature of the medicine. Only after completing the full course can we talk about the work of the drug. Interrupted therapy will not give any results. You can always look at all dosages in the instructions.
Usually children are hospitalized in the first year of life, and also if there are severe pathologies, such as kidney failure or diabetes. Hospitalization is also indicated for other complications, and in general in the case of a severe course of the disease.
Most common doctor appointments
Antibiotics for angina in children (names below) are prescribed by doctors from drugs of a number of penicillins, cephalosporins andmacrolides.
Macrolides include:
- "Sumamed";
- Spiramycin;
- Macrofoam;
- Midecamycin;
- Azithromycin;
- Zitrocin;
- Erythromycin.
They are prescribed in case of allergy to penicillin. It also happens that the pathogen is insensitive to penicillin drugs. "Sumamed" is one of the most popular, especially for children, as it tends to accumulate in tissues. This allows you to reduce the course of treatment to five days.
With angina, penicillin antibiotics for children are prescribed most often. These include:
- "Amoxiclav";
- "Medoclav";
- Augmentin;
- "Ranklav";
- Ticarcillin;
- "Amoxicillin";
- Amoxiclavin and others.
In bacterial sore throat, this series of antibiotics is preferred. Most often, children tolerate them well, and the lack of attachment to meals only adds another point to their merits. If the bacterium is resistant to conventional penicillins, then Amoxiclav is prescribed - a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid increases the effectiveness of the antibiotic. This group of drugs has a powerful bactericidal effect against pneumococci, staphylococci and streptococci. The latter have a special sensitivity to this series of drugs.
Cephalosporins - medicines of this group are also effective antibiotics for angina in children. These are drugs such as:
- "Cephalexim";
- Pancef;
- "Aksetin";
- Cefotaxime;
- Ceftriaxone and others.
Cephalosporins are an alternative in the treatment of angina. All drugs are highly active against many pathogens.
How to choose?
What antibiotic to give a child with a sore throat? Doctors prescribe this or that drug after testing and identifying the pathogen. Physicians take material during the initial examination. Usually this is a throat swab, which is sent for further bacteriological examination. In addition to identifying the pathogen, such a study will help to exclude diphtheria - a very dangerous disease, which also manifests itself as inflammation of the tonsils.
A bacteriological study in a regular state clinic usually takes at least a couple of days. Therefore, doctors, relying on the symptoms of the disease, most often make an appointment immediately. After two or three days, the doctor examines the child again and notes the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the prescribed drug. This can be judged by the general condition of the child, the condition of the tonsils and the temperature. If during this time there has been no improvement in well-being, and the child continues to have a fever, the doctor prescribes a new drug based on the results of a bacteriological study.
"Amoxicillin" is one of the most convenient drugs for the treatment of children. If you are interested in the question of which antibiotic for angina for a 3-year-old child is most suitable, then in most casesit will be "Amoxicillin". In severe cases of the course of the disease, this drug is also prescribed, however, the introduction is made in the form of injections. Antibiotics for angina in children in the form of injections can be administered when it is impossible to take them normally.
"Amoxicillin" is practically non-toxic, and this is one of the most important aspects, and is available in various forms: suspension, capsules, and tablets. This diversity makes it easier to take an antibiotic for a sore throat for a child 10 years old and younger.
Sometimes doctors prevent long-term complications. In this case, after the main course, "Bicillin-3" or "Bicillin-5" may be prescribed. One injection per week or one per month, respectively.
General recommendations
Antibiotics are drugs that require a full course of treatment. Its duration is most often determined by the doctor. However, it will not be less than five days, with the exception of the aforementioned Sumamed, the course of which is three to five days, at the discretion of the doctor.
Self-cessation of treatment after some improvement in the child's condition may result in various complications from the kidneys, cardiovascular system. Sometimes this can result in the development of chronic tonsillitis. At the end of treatment, the doctor prescribes control tests of urine, blood and ECG.
The dosage and frequency of administration should be observed strictly as directed by the doctor, because the appointments are made taking into account body weight and age, the severity of the disease andthe presence or absence of other pathologies. It is better to take antibiotics for children with sore throat at the same hours, and drink plenty of water, but not juice, milk, lemonade or other drinks.
If the instructions indicate that the drug is not recommended for combination with meals, then you should take it either two hours after a meal, or one hour before it. A doctor should be consulted if a child takes various vitamin preparations during treatment, even if it is ordinary ascorbic acid. It reduces the effect of some antibiotics, and other vitamins can lead to an allergic reaction.
Even with the best antibiotics for sore throats, children should have plenty of fluids and good nutrition, including vegetables and fruits. It is better to refuse chemical vitamin preparations.
Additional drugs
Since the possibility of developing an allergic reaction can never be ruled out, doctors often recommend taking antihistamine (antiallergic) medicines during a course of antibiotics for sore throat in children.
Names of drugs: "Tavegil", "Fenistil", "Diazolin", "Zodak", "Peritol", "Cetrin". The latter applies only to children over two years of age.
All antibiotics are known to kill bacteria. However, together with the pathogenic flora, they also destroy the intestinal microflora. Especially if it is cephalosporins - broad-spectrum antibiotics. As a result, an imbalance of the intestinal microflora - dysbacteriosis may develop.
Doctors often prescribe for preventive purposesparallel intake of probiotics. These are Acipol, Acilact, Biovestin, Biobacton, Lactobacterin, Bifiliz, Bifiform-baby, Linex and others. If these drugs are in the doctor's prescription, they should be taken.
Other Features
Additionally, local antibiotics can be used as directed by a doctor. They are used in the form of inhalations. For example, the drug "Bioparox" with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action affects both bacteria and fungi. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect. It can be used by children over two years old. However, this does not replace the main course of antibiotics.
Some parents are surprised to learn that antibiotics do not have antipyretic effects. When a child has a fever, along with the main drugs, it is worth giving antipyretics, such as Nurofen, Paracetamol and others.
As a self-treatment, many parents give their children sulfanilamide preparations, such as Sulfadimezin, Bactrim, Biseptol and others. Now they are not used to treat children. Any appointment should be discussed with the doctor.
Also, with purulent sore throats, you can not use such popular folk remedies as steam inhalations and warm compresses.
Diet and routine
The presence of a fever suggests bed rest. If there is an improvement in the condition, then it is allowed to get out of bed. However, outdoor games should be limited. Swimming and walking are possible only after the temperaturewill return to normal.
Dietary recommendations are quite simple: the food of a child with a sore throat should be easy to digest, nutritious and fortified. The consumption of cold or too hot foods is excluded. Best served warm.
In the early days, children often refuse to eat, but this is not scary. Just give your child more nutritious drink. Suitable, for example, compotes, fruit drinks, rosehip broth, sweet tea with lemon. Then you can start giving the patient semi-liquid purees and broths, and then return to the usual diet. From the usual menu, everything that is capable of irritating the mucous membranes should be removed: spices, salinity, cold and hot, spicy foods, marinades, crackers.
Honey for sore throat
Honey is an excellent folk remedy that helps with many diseases. However, tonsillitis is an inflammatory process, therefore, no matter how softening this product may be, doctors do not advise giving it to patients before the acute inflammation in the tonsils subsides.
Natural honey, used in its pure form, can cause a sore throat and will irritate the mucous membranes. When the raids come down, honey can be added to tea or to the baby's milk. It is also allowed to absorb a small amount of honey. In that case it will be useful. After all, it provides bactericidal and analgesic effects.
Instead of a conclusion
If the attending physician has established that the child has a sore throat, then the question of antibiotics should not arise, since the doctor himself will make an appointment depending on the type of pathogen. Bacterial tonsillitis is not treated with anything other than antibiotics. If this disease is started, the complications will be very serious, up to disability. With bacterial sore throat, antibiotics, despite the harm to the intestinal microflora, will bring much more benefit. For other types of sore throat, antibiotic treatment can be harmful, and at best, it simply will not have any effect.
Parents must follow the doctor's instructions, follow the dosage, duration of the course and the conditions for taking the drugs. After all, untreated tonsillitis can give serious complications. One of them is rheumatism and the subsequent formation of heart defects.
