Do I need antibiotics?
This blog post is from Angela Bell, Principal Pharmacist, Quality Patient Safety and Governance, at NHS Mid and South Essex.
I'm Angela Bell, Principal Pharmacist, Quality Patient Safety and Governance, at NHS Mid and South Essex.
As we mark Antibiotic Resistance Week, I want to share some crucial information about antibiotics and how we can better protect our children from the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotics are vital for treating bacterial infections, but they don't work for every illness. In fact, antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections, not viral infections such as the common cold, flu, or most sore throats.
Yet, we’re seeing an increase in prescriptions for antibiotics, particularly for children, and it's time to look at what this means for our families, our communities, and our future.
What is antibiotic resistance?
When antibiotics are used too often or incorrectly, bacteria adapt and become resistant. This process can lead to “superbugs” - bacteria that are harder to treat, requiring stronger or more complex antibiotics, which often come with more side effects and longer recovery times. Antibiotic resistance is happening worldwide, and it's one of the most significant threats to public health.
Locally, we’re looking into the increase in the number of antibiotics prescribed to children. While antibiotics are sometimes the best course of action, we are working to ensure that each prescription is issued only when truly necessary, to avoid antibiotic resistance.
Are antibiotics the right answer for your child?
In children, antibiotics are commonly prescribed for conditions like ear infections, sore throats, or coughs. However, many of these infections are caused by viruses rather than bacteria, meaning antibiotics won't be effective.
The best approach often involves letting the body's immune system do the work and providing supportive care like rest, fluids, and medicines to reduce fever.
If antibiotics are used when they aren't needed, it increases the risk of resistance in our communities and can contribute to health problems in future. Taking antibiotics can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, so taking them when they are not required puts you at risk of unnecessary side effects.
Our commitment in mid and south Essex is to empower families with the knowledge and confidence to know when antibiotics might help, and when other supportive care will be the best remedy.
What about Penicillin allergies?
Penicillin is a commonly used antibiotic, and many people who take it experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, but these should not be mistaken for allergy.
If you are not sure whether you or your child are allergic to penicillin, speak to your healthcare professional about the symptoms you experienced when the penicillin was taken. Avoiding penicillin if you require antibiotics, when you do not have an ‘allergy’ can cause problems for you and contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Work with your healthcare professional
Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in deciding whether antibiotics are necessary for your child's condition.
- Discuss what is best for your child: It can be tempting to expect antibiotics for every illness, but it's essential to trust their advice and judgement. Taking antibiotics can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, so taking them when they are not required puts you at risk of unnecessary side effects.
- Ask questions: If the healthcare professional advises against antibiotics, ask why. Understanding the reasoning will help you feel more confident in their decision.
- Describe your child's symptoms fully: Be clear and detailed when explaining your child's symptoms, including how long they've been unwell. This helps to assess whether a bacterial infection is likely, and when antibiotics should be started to treat the bacterial infection.
- Take antibiotics as prescribed: if you are prescribed antibiotics, it is essential that you complete the full course as prescribed. Do not share antibiotics with others, even if they have the same symptoms as you. If you have any antibiotics left at the end of the course, take the left over medicine to a local community pharmacy for safe disposal.
The health and safety of children in our community is our highest priority, and this Antibiotic Resistance Week, we’re asking for your help. Let's work together to ensure antibiotics remain a powerful tool for those who genuinely need them.
Making careful choices about when and how antibiotics are prescribed will protect future generations and keep our children healthy.
For more information visit: Antibiotic resistance