Should I give my 4 month old antibiotics when she gets a cold? I do not trust my pediatrician and the way they over medicate... I need your advice :)

Catherine - posted on 02/22/2009

Yeah that is why I was concerned. My daughter didn't have a fever and she was happy. She just was coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and mucous in eyes. The doctor told me to give her antibiotics...so reluctantly I did. But that was 3 weeks ago and she's starting to have a runny nose and coughing again (no, she does not go to daycare and there are no other kids, just me, her, and my husband all the time). And each time she gets sick I get sick. I'm getting the same sore throat and coughing again, and I just got off of my antibiotics. I do not want to give her antibiotics if I don't have to. I am going to ride this one out this time, but if she gets a fever, and seems in pain I am going to try a new doctor and see what they say. Thank you all for your advice. I appreciate it.

Sharon - posted on 02/21/2009

My pediatrician says if they have a common cold, they just need to ride it out. However, if they have a fever OR having pain, then tylenol should be given.

Jen - posted on 02/21/2009

i dont give my baby medication...unless its an infection....otherwise the body wont learn to fight on its own

Marnie - posted on 02/21/2009

You are correct - Doctors over medicate all the time - For a typical cold - antibiotics should NOT be given!  Having said that however, a cold typically lasts about a week - any longer than that and there may be another problem...

My 5 month old was sick for over two weeks with what I thought was just a cold...after 2 weeks however, I took him to see the doctor - turns out he has an ear infection that does require antibiotics...and after only 1 and a half days of antibiotics, his immune system is now able to concentrate on the cold and his cough is starting to clear up...

Once the cycle of antibiotics are done, I'll be giving him pro-biotics to ensure that his colon comes back with proper flora...

Rebecca - posted on 02/21/2009

Catherine...

You personally will not know the difference between a virus and a bacterial infection, most of the time.  If your entire family has had a cold and then the baby gets it, it is safe to assume that it is viral.  Your pediatrician will look in the baby's ears, at his/her throat, listen to his/her chest, etc to assess whether in his/her professional opinion there is something infectious going on.  This is where you have to trust your pediatrician.

Other wise, it sounds as though you are doing all you can to alleviate symptoms at home.  Keep up the good work, and hang in there!

Catherine - posted on 02/21/2009

Thank you all! I am definitely going to look for a pediatrician I trust. Also, I knew that antibiotics treat bacterial colds not viral. But, my question is how do you know the difference between the two? Any other advice on home remedies?



-baby tylenol

-warm baths

-humidifiers

-baby saline nose spray

Rebecca - posted on 02/21/2009

First off, if you don't trust your pediatrician, find a new one!  This is the person that you will be taking your child to for many years to come. 

As mentioned in previous posts, antibiotics will not cure a viral cold.  However, if your child has developed a secondary infection (ie, sinus, ear, etc) than an antibiotic is necessary.  How do you know if they have developed a secondary infection?  That is what your pediatrician will determine based on his/her assessment....and this is where trusting your pediatrician is a MUST!

Nellina - posted on 02/20/2009

I think you need to trust your doctors and let them decide. Yes viral infections won't be helped by antibiotics, but bacterial will. My son last week had a grotty nose and temp and our doctor prescribed antibiotics. He told me if it was bacterial then I should seem improvement within 2 days, which I did. If you do leave a cold which the doctors expect to need antibiotics you may well find your baby with a secondary ear infection and screaming baby. Trust your instincts and that of your doctor. Good luck and I hope the little one gets better soon. X Nellie

Marika - posted on 02/20/2009

If your baby has a cold it is due to a virus not a bacteria therefore giving her antibiotics won't help her at all. If she has say an ear infection, then maybe she needs antibiotics or if her lungs are not clear and your doctor suspect a pneumonia or a bronchitis then yes maybe again she needs antibiotics. You should trust your doctor, now our days they don't like to prescribe antibiotics for nothing.

Leanne - posted on 02/20/2009

First thing is if you do not trust your pediatrician, perhaps you should look for another.  I would never leave my babies health care in the hands of someone I did not trust.  Second if it just a cold I would not give antibiotics for that.  Trust your instincts, and again if you think this Dr is always quick to medicate I would start looking for someone else.  Good Luck.

Tammy - posted on 02/20/2009

Antibiotics won't touch a cold.  Most ear infections will pass on their own in a few days and you can put heat compresses on them and give Tylenol to alleviate pain.  However for the ear infection that gets worse you run the risk of bulging ear drum and ruptured ear drum.    If the ear eache does not pass in a few days then I would try antibiotics.  I hate giving unnessesary drugs and have never had to give any of my children antibiotics.  I always look for a natural way first and up to now that has been enough.

Sonya - posted on 02/20/2009

with just a cold, antibiotics wont do a thing...as sarah said it is a viral cold. my nephew was put on antibiotics for long enough that he is now immune to many. If you dont trust your pediatrician, i would personally find one you would be comfortable with. I moved this last year and "shopped" around for a new doc. I still have the same one now a few months later, but i take everything thats told to me always with a grain of salt and still ask around for any options.

Jennifer - posted on 02/20/2009

Typically one does not prescribe antibiotics for colds, but some peds do give a small dose because babies can be a little more difficult to treat. As in, the symptoms in them vs a 3 yr old may not be as prevalent. Some do it to soothe the parent. I have one girlfriend, total ditz, I love her dearly, but honestly, a ditz. Anyway, she can not comprehend that you don't treat a cold with an antibiotic and will demand one. She's gone as far as to rush a perfectly healthy child to the emergency room declaring the child has a 105 temp, just in hopes of an antibiotic. That event resulted in the 5 yr old getting a spinal tap because she convinced her self the child had menegitis (sp) while she was at the hospital.



If you don't feel good about your ped, shop around until you find one you mesh with.

Sarah - posted on 02/20/2009

When it is just a cold they should not get antibiotics besause it is a viral cold. Different if it ear infection or something like that. I have 3 girls 8 6 and a 6 month old sometimes a little tylenol helps though. Should start teething here pretty soon can almost seem like a cold because they will pull on their ears and run a fever.