Antibiotics of the cephalosporin group are considered very effective and are often prescribed to children with infectious diseases. One of the most popular among them can be called Zinnat, because, unlike many other drugs in this group, it is presented not by injections, but by forms that can be taken orally. When it is prescribed for children, which form is preferable at an early age and how to dose it?
Release form
Zinnat produce:
- In vialscontaining 1.25 g of white granules. They differ in size less than 3 mm and irregular shape. If you add water to them, you get a light yellow or white suspension with a fruit smell. A glass is attached to the bottle so that you can accurately measure the amount of water for preparing the suspension, as well as a spoon for dosing the finished medicine.
- In tablets, which have a film shell. They are white and oval, convex on both sides. Tablets are presented in two dosages and are sold packaged in blisters of 10 pieces, one blister per pack.
Zinnat does not have other forms, such as syrup, capsules, sachets with powder or ampoules.
Composition
The active substance in any form of the drug is cefuroxime, represented by the compound "cefuroxime axetil". In 5 ml of suspension, it is contained in an amount of 125 mg, and in one tablet it can be either 125 mg or 250 mg.
Additional substances in the liquid medicine are xanthan gum, povidone k30, and stearic acid. The sweet taste of the drug is provided by aspartame, sucrose and acesulfame potassium, and the smell is provided by the tutti-frutti flavor.
Inside the tablets, cefuroxime is combined with sodium lauryl sulfate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, MCC, colloidal silicon dioxide and croscarmellose sodium. The drug shell is made from propyl and methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propylene glycol, hypromellose and white dye.
Operating principle
Zinnat is an antibiotic of the cephalosporin group and represents their second generation. It is active against a wide range of microorganisms, including beta-lactamase-secreting bacteria, so this drug is effective if the microbes are not affected by amoxicillin or ampicillin. By influencing the formation of bacterial cell walls, cefuroxime has a bactericidal effect.
And now Dr. Komarovsky will tell us in which case antibiotics are dangerous for children, and in which case they are simply necessary.
The drug is active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus, various types of staphylococci, many types of streptococci, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Borrelia and many other microorganisms. However, Zinnat will not help if the infection is caused by Listeria, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, Legionella and some other bacteria.
In addition, staphylococci, proteus, clostridia and other microbes on which cefuroxime usually acts may be resistant to the drug. For this reason, it is recommended to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen before treatment. It should not be forgotten that the medicine will not act on viruses, therefore Zinnat is not used for influenza, mononucleosis, chickenpox and other viral infections.
Indications
The drug is prescribed for infectious diseases caused by microorganisms sensitive to Zinnat. The reason for giving such a medicine to a child may be:
- Otitis media, pharyngitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, or any other upper respiratory tract disease.
- Urethritis, pyelonephritis or cystitis.
- Furunculosis, pyoderma, or other bacterial skin infection.
- Pneumonia or bacterial bronchitis.
- Gonorrhea.
- Borreliosis.
From what age is it allowed to take?
The suspension is used in childhood in babies older than 3 months. The neonatal period is a contraindication to such a drug. Children from 3 months to 3 years old are prescribed only a liquid form, and tablets are prescribed at the age of 3 years and older, provided that the child can swallow them without biting through. If the child is more than three years old (for example, 6 years old), but he protests against the solid form, a suspension is used for treatment.
Contraindications
Any form of medication is not used in the treatment of children with cephalosporin intolerance. Phenylketonuria is also a limitation for the administration of a suspension, since the composition of such a Zinnat includes aspartame. If a child has renal or gastrointestinal diseases, the medication should be prescribed carefully. The presence of sucrose in the liquid form should be taken into account when used in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Antibiotics are indispensable in some cases, but there is another side of the coin, which Dr. Komarovsky will tell us about.
Side effects
Due to the reception of Zinnat in a small patient, such negative phenomena are possible:
- Allergy. Most often, this reaction is manifested by a rash on the skin, but it can be represented by hives, itching, or in rare cases, fever.
- Loose stools, nausea, or abdominal pain. Occasionally, taking the medication will lead to vomiting or colitis.
- Dizziness.
- Increased activity of liver enzymes. Sometimes the medicine provokes hepatitis or cholestatic jaundice.
- Headache.
- An increase in the number of eosinophils, a decrease in the number of platelets and leukocytes.
- Candidal infection.
Instructions for use
Suspension
To dilute the granules, use a measuring cup, collecting unheated boiled water (37 ml) into it to the mark. After shaking the granules, water is poured into them, the bottle is closed and turned over. The bottle should be shaken vigorously for about 15 seconds, then inverted and shaken a little more.
Such a medication can be given undiluted by measuring the required volume of the drug with a dosage spoon or a plastic syringe from a package from some other medication (for example, Nurofen). If the child does not like the taste, the preparation can be mixed with fruit juice or a small amount of milk before use. However, do not add any hot liquid to the slurry.
The drug is prescribed twice after meals. The dose for children over 2 years old is usually 5 ml - from this volume of the suspension, the child receives 125 mg of cefuroxime at a time and 250 mg per day. If the baby has otitis media or some serious infection, the single dosage is increased to 250 mg (2 tablespoons of the suspension), that is, the little patient receives 500 mg of cefuroxime per day.
For children under 2 years of age, the dose is often calculated by weight. Such a definition of a one-time volume of medication is often used for children over 2 years of age. To calculate the weight of the child's body in kilograms, multiply by 10 (in case of severe infection - by 15). The resulting number is the amount of cefuroxime in milligrams given per dose.
Pills
This form of Zinnat is given after meals twice a day. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor and can be 5-10 days, but most often the tablets are prescribed for 1 week.
In most cases, a single dose for a child is one 125 mg cefuroxime tablet. In a severe course of infection, either two 125 mg tablets or 1 tablet with a dosage of 250 mg are given at one time.
The drug should be swallowed and washed down with a little water.
The tablet should not break, grind into powder or bite into several parts... If the child cannot swallow it, it is better to abandon this form and prefer a suspension.
Overdose
If you drink a suspension in a dose more than the doctor prescribed, or take several pills at once, this can cause nervous excitement, and in some children, with an overdose, convulsions occur. Such negative symptoms are often treated symptomatically, and in severe conditions, dialysis is performed.
Interaction with other drugs
- It is not recommended to give Zinnat together with drugs that lower the acidity of gastric juices, as this affects the absorption of cefuroxime and its bioavailability.
- The combination with "loop" diuretic drugs prevents the excretion of cefuroxime by the kidneys, due to which its concentration in plasma increases.
- If tablets or suspensions are given at the same time as aminoglycoside treatment, it will have a toxic effect on the kidneys.
Terms of sale
To buy Zinnat granules or tablets in pharmacies, you must show a prescription from a doctor. On average, one bottle of granules costs about 260 rubles, and the price of a package of 125 mg cefuroxime tablets is about 240 rubles.
Storage conditions
Store the packaging with tablets and the sealed bottle with granules at home in a place protected from children at temperatures up to + 300C. The storage temperature of the finished suspension is + 2 + 80C, therefore, after dilution with water, the drug is kept in the refrigerator. The shelf life of granules is 2 years, tablets - 3 years, suspensions after dilution - 10 days.
Reviews
In most cases, parents respond well to the treatment of children with Zinnat drugs. They confirm that such a medication is very effective in combating otitis media, angina, sinusitis, boils, cough in bronchitis and other problems caused by harmful bacteria. This is also confirmed by pediatricians, including the famous doctor Komarovsky.
Most often, for the treatment of children, a suspension is chosen, which is praised for its ease of dosing. The disadvantages of the drug, many mothers call the appearance of side effects. Most often it is noted that after taking Zinnat, diarrhea or vomiting occurs. In addition, some children do not like this medication.
Analogs
Zinnat can be replaced with other cefuroxime-based drugs, for example, Axetin, Zinacef, Cefurus or Cefurabol. However, almost all of these drugs are powder for injection. Only Axosef, Zinoximor and Cetyl Lupine are produced in tablet form.
Other antibiotics from the group of penicillins or cephalosporins, for example, Suprax, Ospamox, Ekoklav or Augmentin, can be a substitute for Zinnat. Also, based on the analysis of the sensitivity of bacteria, the doctor can change Zinnat for antibacterial drugs such as Sumamed, Macropen, Wilprafen and other drugs. However, giving them to a child on their own is unacceptable. Only a specialist should determine which antibiotic is better for a particular infection.
