GETSMARTAbout Antibiotics Week
WWW.CDC.GOV/GETSMART
ANTIBIOTICS AREN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER
Many common infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics. As a parent, ask questions to make sure your sick child is getting the best care possible, which might not include an antibiotic.
The Facts:• Antibiotics can have reactions and side effects.
Harmfuleffectsfromantibiotics,suchassideeffectsandallergicreactions,cause1outof5emergencydepartmentvisitsforadversedrugeventsandleadto50,000 emergency department visits inchildreneachyear.1
• Antibiotics can be overused and misused.
Itisestimatedthatmore than half of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribedtochildrenindoctorofficesettingsforcoughandcoldillness,mostofwhicharecausedbyviruses.
• Antibiotics can only cure infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.
• Antibiotic resistance is growing.
Anestimated2 million illnesses and23,000 deaths occureachyearintheUnitedStatesduetoantibiotic-resistantinfections.2Overuseandmisuseofantibioticsaremaindriversofresistance.
? ? ??
?
FOR PARENTS
CS260605B
Questions to Ask Your ProviderIfyourchildissick,hereare3 important questionstoaskyourhealthcareprofessional:
1. What is the best treatment for my child’s illness?
Antibioticsaren’tneededforcommonillnesseslikecolds,mostsorethroats,theflu,andevensomeearinfections.Theseillnessesareoftencausedbyviruses,whichdonotrespondtoantibiotics.Sometimesthebesttreatmentissymptomrelief.
2. Is this the right antibiotic for the type of infectionmy child has?
Ifanantibioticwillhelpyourchild,it’simportanttouseanantibioticthatisdesignedtofightthebacteriacausingyourchild’sspecificillness.Ifyourhealthcareprofessionalsaysyourchildneedsanantibiotic,askifit’stheonemost“targeted”totreattheinfectionwhilecausingtheleastsideeffects.
3. What can I do to help my child feel better?
Painrelievers,feverreducers,salinenasalsprayordrops,warmcompresses,liquids,andrestmaybethebestthingstohelpyourchildfeelbetter.Askyourhealthcareproviderorpharmacistwhatsymptomreliefisbestforyourchild.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.1600CliftonRoadN.E.,Atlanta,GA30333
Telephone:1-800-CDC-INFO(232-4636)/TTY:1-888-232-63548Email:[email protected]:www.cdc.gov/getsmart
Citations:1BourgeoisFT,etal.Pediatricadversedrugeventsintheoutpatientsetting:An11-yearnationalanalysis.Pediatrics.2009;124:e744-50.2CDC.AntibioticResistanceThreatsintheUnitedStates,2013.16September2013.
