Antibiotics and Children in Brampton: Using Them Well

When your child is sick, miserable and not sleeping, it is natural to want something that will make them better quickly. Many parents leave a doctor’s appointment hoping for a prescription for antibiotics, and some feel disappointed or uncertain when they do not get one. Others receive an antibiotic and wonder whether they really need to finish the whole bottle once their child feels better.

Antibiotics are among the most important medicines ever developed. They have saved countless lives by treating bacterial infections that were once dangerous. But they only work on certain infections, they carry side effects, and overusing them contributes to a growing global problem called antibiotic resistance.

This article explains when antibiotics are helpful for children, when they are not, and how to use them well when they are prescribed. Our pharmacists at Pharmasave BramNorth in north Brampton can answer questions about any antibiotic your child is prescribed.

Viruses and bacteria are not the same

Infections are caused by different kinds of germs, mainly viruses and bacteria. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria or stopping them from growing. They have no effect on viruses.

Most common childhood illnesses are caused by viruses, including:

• Colds.
• Most coughs and sore throats.
• Influenza.
• Most cases of bronchiolitis.
• Most stomach bugs.
• Many cases of pink eye.

For these illnesses, antibiotics will not help a child recover faster and may cause side effects. Treatment focuses on rest, fluids and comfort while the body fights off the virus.

Some infections are caused by bacteria and may need antibiotics. Examples include strep throat, some ear infections, some sinus infections, urinary tract infections, some pneumonias and certain skin infections such as impetigo. Even then, a healthcare provider will consider whether an antibiotic is needed based on the child’s age, symptoms and examination.

Why the doctor might not prescribe one

If your child’s healthcare provider does not prescribe an antibiotic, it usually means they believe the illness is viral or that the infection is likely to clear without one. For some conditions, such as certain ear infections, providers may recommend a “watch and wait” approach, with an antibiotic only if symptoms do not improve. Our article on ear infections in children explains this in more detail.

It is completely reasonable to ask questions, such as:

• What do you think is causing the illness?
• What can I do to help my child feel better?
• What signs should prompt me to come back?
• How long should I expect symptoms to last?

Knowing what to expect makes it easier to manage at home and to recognise when something changes.

It can feel like nothing is being done when you leave without a prescription, but supportive care is real treatment. Keeping a child hydrated, managing fever and pain with an age-appropriate product, encouraging rest and watching closely for warning signs are exactly what helps a child through most viral illnesses. If things change, such as a fever that lasts longer than expected or new symptoms like ear pain or difficulty breathing, return for reassessment. A situation that did not need antibiotics on day one may look different on day four.

What antibiotic resistance means for your family

When antibiotics are used, bacteria in the body are exposed to them. Over time, some bacteria can develop ways to survive. These resistant bacteria can spread and cause infections that are harder to treat, requiring stronger or different antibiotics, or in some cases leaving few options.

Every course of antibiotics, even when needed, contributes to this risk. That is why health organisations, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, encourage using antibiotics only when they are truly needed and using them correctly when they are.

Antibiotics also affect the helpful bacteria that live in the gut and on the skin. This can lead to side effects such as diarrhea or yeast infections.

Giving antibiotics correctly

If your child is prescribed an antibiotic, using it as directed helps it work properly. Key points:

• Give the right dose. Measure liquids with an oral syringe or dosing device, not a kitchen spoon.
• Follow the timing. If the label says every 8 or 12 hours, try to space doses evenly. Setting phone alarms helps.
• Check food instructions. Some antibiotics should be taken with food, others on an empty stomach.
• Store it correctly. Some antibiotic liquids need refrigeration; others should stay at room temperature. Check the label.
• Shake well if it is a suspension.
• Complete the course as prescribed, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Stopping early when your child feels better may allow the infection to return.

If you are unsure about any of these, ask the pharmacist when you pick up the prescription.

Fitting doses around school and child care

Antibiotics that need to be given three or four times a day can be tricky when a child spends most of the day at school or daycare. Before leaving the pharmacy, ask whether the doses can be arranged to fall before school, after school and at bedtime. For many medicines that is possible, but the pharmacist will confirm what spacing is appropriate.

If a dose truly needs to be given during the school day, speak with the school or child care provider about its medication policy. They usually require a signed form and a pharmacy-labelled container. Ask us for a second labelled bottle so one can stay at school and one at home, and check whether the medicine needs refrigeration there.

When children move between two households, such as after a separation, make sure both homes have the instructions, the measuring device and a way to record doses. A shared note on a phone or a log that travels with the medicine helps everyone stay on track.

What to do if a dose is missed

Missed doses happen, especially with busy schedules, school, work and multiple caregivers. If you miss a dose, check the information sheet that came with the prescription, or call the pharmacy. General advice is often to give the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for the next one, but this varies by medicine. Do not give a double dose to make up for a missed one without guidance.

Keeping a simple log of doses given, with times, helps avoid both missed and double doses.

Common side effects and when to call

Common side effects of many antibiotics in children include:

• Upset stomach, nausea or loss of appetite.
• Diarrhea, usually mild.
• Diaper rash or yeast rash in young children.

Call a pharmacist or doctor if your child has:

• Severe, watery or bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea that continues after the antibiotic is finished.
• A new rash.
• Vomiting that prevents them from keeping doses down.
• Symptoms that are not improving after two or three days of treatment.

Seek emergency care, by calling 911, if your child shows signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, or widespread hives.

Antibiotic allergies: get the details right

If your child has a reaction to an antibiotic, record exactly what happened, including the name of the antibiotic, the date, and the type of reaction. Not every rash during an antibiotic course is a true allergy; some rashes are caused by the infection itself. However, any suspected allergy should be reported to your child’s doctor and pharmacist.

An accurate allergy record helps healthcare providers choose the safest treatment in the future. Being labelled with an allergy that is not real can limit treatment options later, so if you are unsure, ask your doctor whether your child should be assessed further.

Never share or save leftover antibiotics

Sometimes there is medicine left over because doses were missed or the prescription quantity was rounded up. Do not keep leftover antibiotics for future illnesses or give them to siblings or friends. The antibiotic may not be right for a different infection, the dose may be wrong, and it may have expired.

Return leftover antibiotics to the pharmacy for safe disposal. Our article on safe medicine storage has more on clearing out unused medicines.

Preventing infections in the first place

The best way to reduce antibiotic use is to prevent infections. Simple measures help:

• Handwashing with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
• Covering coughs and sneezes.
• Keeping routine vaccines up to date, since some vaccines protect against bacterial infections.
• Getting the flu shot, which reduces flu and its complications.
• Staying home when sick.

Questions about your child’s antibiotic? Ask us

If your child has been prescribed an antibiotic, or if you have questions about whether one might be needed, our pharmacists are here to help. We can explain how to give it, review side effects, and help you with a plan if your child refuses the taste. Ontario pharmacists can also assess and treat certain minor ailments, some of which may involve antibiotics when appropriate.

Drop by Pharmasave BramNorth at 25 & 26 - 2 Dewside Drive, Brampton, ON L6R 3Y5, call us at (905) 792-7333, or find our details on the contact page. You can also book time with a pharmacist through our booking page.

The information in this article is general and educational. Decisions about antibiotics should be made with a doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist who knows your child’s health.