Doxycycline has been shown to be effective in many infections and is therefore often prescribed for adults. But is it possible to give it to children, how does the child's body react to this antibiotic, and according to what scheme is it taken?
Release form
Doxycycline is available in 2 types:
- Capsules. They are cylindrical in shape, yellow in color and content in the form of a yellow-white powder. One pack contains 10 or 20 capsules.
- Ampoules or vials with lyophilized powder. They are packed in a cardboard box of 5. 10 or 50 pieces.
Composition
The main component of the drug is doxycycline hydrochloride. There is 100 mg of this compound in 1 capsule, and in one injection vial it can be either 100 or 200 mg.
Additional substances in the capsules are lactose, calcium stearate, starch, glycerol, gelatin and other compounds. In the injectable form, in addition to the active ingredient, disodium edetate and sodium disulfite are present.
Operating principle
The drug has a bacteriostatic effect on such microorganisms:
- Clostridia;
- Gonococci;
- Hemophilic sticks;
- Staphylococci;
- Actinomycetes;
- Salmonella;
- Enterobacteriaceae;
- Streptococci;
- Listeria;
- Rickettsia;
- Coli;
- Treponema;
- Brucella;
- Cholera vibrios;
- Mycoplasma;
- Shigella;
- Klebsiella;
- Whooping cough sticks;
- Legionella;
- Chlamydia;
- Causative agents of plague, malaria, anthrax and tularemia.
Taking Doxycycline inhibits protein synthesis in microbial cells. Resistance to this antibiotic is noted in Proteus, bacteroids, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and serrations. This drug is inactive against fungi and viruses.
Indications
The use of Doxycycline is justified for infections that cause pathogens sensitive to such an antibacterial agent.
The medicine is prescribed for:
- Otitis, sinusitis and other lesions of the ENT organs;
- Lung abscess, bronchopneumonia, tracheitis, pharyngitis and other infections of the respiratory system;
- Urethritis, cystitis and other infections affecting the genitourinary organs;
- Cholangitis, enterocolitis, cholecystitis and other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract of an infectious nature;
- Furuncles, infected wounds, panaritiums, phlegmons and other infectious lesions of soft tissues or skin;
- Eye infections;
- Chlamydia;
- Syphilis;
- Typhus;
- Lyme disease;
- Dysentery;
- Cholera;
- Tularemia;
- Legionellosis;
- Rickettsiosis;
- Gonorrhea;
- Malaria and many other infections.
In what cases it is worth taking antibiotics, you will learn from the following video.
At what age can children be given?
Doxycycline is contraindicated in children under 8 years of age. since such a medicine has the ability to bind with calcium, as a result of which insoluble complexes form in the bones and teeth of the child, which disrupt their development. For this reason, at the age of 6 years or younger, the medication is used extremely rarely (for health reasons). The annotation to the capsules also noted that if a child weighs less than 45 kg, the drug should not be given to children under 12 years of age.
Contraindications
The medication is not used:
- If you are allergic to tetracycline antibiotics and other components of the drug;
- With severe liver failure;
- With porphyria;
- With leukopenia.
Capsules are also not used for glucose-galactose malabsorption and lactase deficiency.
Side effects
- A child's digestive system may react to Doxycycline with nausea, poor appetite, constipation, problems with swallowing, vomiting, loose stools, and other negative symptoms.
- Taking medication can provoke allergies, such as itching or Quincke's edema.
- Doxycycline often has a negative effect on hematopoiesis, therefore, in the blood test in some children, there will be a decrease in platelets and neutrophils, and sometimes signs of hemolytic anemia are found.
- During treatment, a temporary increase in the level of bilirubin and liver enzymes is also possible.
- Doxycycline can cause intestinal dysbiosis or candidiasis.
- Often, the color of the teeth changes in a child after using such a medicine.
Instructions for use
Doxycycline capsules should be taken during the day with plenty of water or with food.
Most often, Doxycycline capsules are prescribed for children weighing more than 45 kg according to the following scheme:
- On the first day, the dosage of the drug will be 200 mg of doxycycline, so the child is given 1 capsule twice a day.
- From the second day, the medication is taken 1 capsule per day, that is, the daily dose is 100 mg of the active compound.
For urethritis, syphilis, chlamydia, acne and some other infections, other treatment regimens are used, which the doctor prescribes for each patient individually.
Intravenous Doxycycline is prescribed for severe infections, when the patient's condition is severely deteriorated. As soon as it improves, they immediately switch to ingestion. The dosage of injections for a child is calculated based on its weight. On the first day of treatment, the weight of a small patient in kilograms is multiplied by 4 and the resulting amount of mg of doxycycline is administered once or divided into two infusions. Further, the daily dosage is 2-4 mg / kg.
For injection, powder from an ampoule or vial is diluted with saline or sterile water in a volume of 10 ml. The resulting solution is injected into 250-500 ml of saline or glucose solution, after which the drug is injected drip for 1-4 hours.
In the following short video, Dr. Komarovsky clarifies how to take antibiotics correctly.
Overdose
Too high a dose of Doxycycline can have a neurotoxic effect, which will manifest itself as nausea, seizures, dizziness, impaired consciousness and other symptoms. For treatment, you should cancel the drug, rinse the stomach, give the patient antacids and other symptomatic agents.
Interaction with other drugs
- Doxycycline is incompatible with calcium, magnesium and iron preparations, as well as antacids, since it forms inactive chelate complexes with them. For this reason, you should wait about 3 hours between taking an antibiotic and eating calcium-rich foods (dairy products).
- The effect of the drug is reduced if barbiturates, phenytoin, or carbamazepine are simultaneously prescribed.
- Do not simultaneously prescribe Doxycycline and other antibiotics if they have a bactericidal effect (for example, cephalosporins).
- Since the drug suppresses the intestinal microflora, this can affect the dosage of indirect anticoagulants.
- If the drug is given with retinol, it can increase intracranial pressure.
Terms of sale and storage
A prescription from a doctor is required to purchase the drug at the pharmacy. The average price of 10 capsules is 20 rubles. Doxycycline storage is recommended in a dry place at temperatures below 25 degrees Celsius. Such a place should be inaccessible to children and hidden from sunlight. The shelf life of the capsules is 4 years, the injectable form is 2 years.
Reviews
There are many positive reviews about the treatment of a child with Doxycycline, in which mothers mention the effectiveness of this antibiotic for various infections. Also, the advantages of the drug include its low cost. As for the disadvantages of the medication, the most common complaints are side effects from the digestive tract.
Analogs
The most popular analogue of Doxycycline is Unidox Solutab. The main advantage of this medicine is its shape. It is a pill that can be swallowed or chewed. Also, instead of Doxycycline, another antibiotic may be prescribed, for example, a suspension of Ospamox or Sumamed. In this case, the decision to replace the antibacterial agent should be made only by the attending physician.
You will learn more about antibiotics from the program of Dr. Komarovsky.
