Intestinal infections are an unpleasant reality. More often, this ailment affects precisely children, not adults, and, like an epidemic, it covers large children's groups (whole groups in a kindergarten or groups in children's health camps). All parents whose children attend preschool and school institutions know and understand this. An intestinal infection in a child is much more severe than in an adult. In addition, it is fraught with dehydration and even death for the baby.
Many parents, faced with such a problem in a child, are wondering whether it is possible to take antibiotics for an intestinal infection. To give an answer, you need to understand that intestinal infection is not just one specific disease, but several completely different diagnoses. And they also need to be treated in different ways.
Do you need antibiotics?
Antibiotics for intestinal infection are prescribed if the causative agent of the disease is a bacterium. If the cause is a virus or food poisoning, antibiotics are not needed. They not only will not help to cope with the disease, but can seriously harm.
Antibiotics that are not able to destroy the virus in case of rotavirus or enterovirus infection will rather quickly "deal" with the beneficial intestinal microflora, and the body of the crumbs will lose its last "defenders" in case of viral diarrhea and vomiting. And severe intoxication and dehydration after diarrhea and vomiting can be fatal, especially for young children.
Bacterial intestinal infection, or as it is also called, "dirty hands disease" develops if pathogenic bacteria enter the child's body. This is mainly due to unwashed hands, dirty vegetables, unsuitable water for drinking, as well as when a child communicates with infected people or animals. Dysentery, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, salmonellosis, cholera, typhoid fever, botulism are considered bacterial.
An intestinal infection caused by a virus is a familiar rotavirus, adenovirus and enterovirus to all parents. Most often these are seasonal diseases, and they attack children in autumn and spring.
Food poisoning most often occurs in summer, when hot weather deteriorates food faster.
If a child has diarrhea, he sweats a lot, he gets feverish, vomiting begins, and a large amount of mucus and even blood impurities in the feces - all this indicates the presence of a bacterial intestinal infection, and the use of antibiotics is quite rational.
Indications
Usually, treatment of an intestinal infection does not begin immediately, but after the type and family of the causative agent of the disease has been established. But even if the tests confirm that the disease is of bacterial origin, the doctor will not prescribe antibiotics for the child in all cases.
Mild forms of intestinal infection do not need potent antibacterial drugs; with minor disorders, the child's immunity will be able to cope with treatment based on antidiarrheal and antiemetic drugs.
According to statistics, the doctor prescribes antibiotics for intestinal ailments in every fifth case (about 20% of the total number of children with bacterial infection need powerful antibiotic therapy).
Antibiotics are needed in the following cases:
- Severe infections. These are dysentery, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, cholera, etc.
- With a complex course of infection. For example, with loose stools, more often 10 times a day at the age of 3 years. If adults are prescribed antibiotic therapy in a serious condition, then antibiotics are indicated for the child even with an average severity of the disease.
- If the child has blood in the stool. This is a sign of intestinal inflammation. And without antibiotics, it is impossible to cure such inflammation.
- With a child's immunodeficiency state.
- If the child has tumors in the body.
Treatment
Antibiotic treatment for intestinal infection will necessarily be complex. Doctors apply the same approach to viral infections; they will also prescribe a set of drugs for rotavirus.
The doctor, in addition to antibiotic therapy, can prescribe antiemetic, antidiarrheal drugs, as well as means of normalizing the balance of water and salt in the body in order to avoid dehydration, for example, "Regidron".
In addition, when treating an intestinal infection, the doctor will definitely recommend giving the child bacteriophages "Bactisubtil", "Hilak Forte", "Lactulose", "Bifidumbacterin", "Laktiale" to restore the natural defense of the intestine and prevent dysbiosis.
List of drugs
The most effective "fighters" against microorganisms - causative agents of intestinal ailments are antibiotics of the cephalosporin group. But doctors first prescribe tetracyclines (children over 8 years old) or penicillins, and if they do not have the desired effect, then they switch to "heavy artillery" - cephalosporins.
Antibiotics - tetracyclines for the treatment of intestinal infections:
- "Doksal"... An antibiotic that quite effectively copes with intestinal microbes of various origins. But this drug is contraindicated in children under 8 years of age, since it forms specific chemical compounds that are "deposited" in the baby's bone skeleton and in the enamel of still forming teeth. Children from 9 to 12 years old (provided that their weight does not exceed 45 kilograms) are prescribed a daily dose of 4 mg. per one kilogram of body weight on the first day of the disease, and then 2 mg. per kilogram of weight (in two daily doses). The drug is available in tablets, capsules and injection forms. In case of severe intestinal infection, the antibiotic is prescribed precisely in injections, but then it is recommended to switch to tablet forms.
- "Tetradox"... An antibiotic produced in capsules. This remedy is contraindicated in children under the age of 9 years. The dosage of "Tetradox" is determined by the doctor strictly individually, taking into account the child's age, body weight and the severity of the disease.
- "Vibramycin"... An antibiotic that is also not recommended for children under 8 years of age. The scheme of administration and dosage of this drug is the same as that of Doxal.
Antibiotics - penicillins for the treatment of intestinal infections:
- "Ampicillin"... The antibiotic is prescribed for children from 1 month. If the infection of the baby is quite severe, the doctor will recommend an individual dosage of the drug in the range of 50 to 100 mg. per kilogram of the child's body weight. The resulting amount will have to be divided into several equal doses per day. If the child's weight has exceeded 20 kilograms, an adult dosage can be used for him (from 250 to 500 mg four times a day.
- "Monomycin"... An antibiotic that can fight most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including those that are acid resistant. It is they who, without dying in the stomach, “get” to the intestines. For children, the drug is prescribed at the rate of 4-5 mg for each kilogram of the child's weight. The total daily amount is divided into 3 doses. Not recommended for babies under one year old.
Antibiotics - cephalosporins for treating intestinal infections:
- "Claforan"... Third generation antibiotic. It is not recommended for children under 2.5 years of age. Children whose weight has not reached 50 kilograms are prescribed injections at a dosage of 50-100 mg per kilogram of weight every 6-8 hours. For severe infections, the doctor has the right to double the dose. For children weighing over 50 kg, the dosage is identical to that of an adult.
- "Cefabol"... A fairly powerful antibiotic with a fairly extensive list of side effects. Manufacturers do not recommend giving it to children under 2.5 years of age, however, in pediatrics, there is a practice of using Cefbol in children, starting from 1 month, if their condition requires urgent and strong antibacterial therapy. In children from 1 month. up to 12 years, the daily dose is from 50 to 180 mg per kilogram of weight. The drug is given in injections 4-6 times a day. For children weighing more than 50 kg, the dosage is according to the adult scheme.
- "Rocephim"... Newborn babies are given 20-50 mg per kilogram of body weight once a day. For babies, children aged 2 years, and children over (up to 12 years old), the doctor will prescribe an individual dose in the range of 20 to 80 mg. preparation for each kilogram of the child's weight once a day. For adolescents over 12 years old, the drug can also be taken once a day, 1-2 grams (at the discretion of the doctor).
- Ceftriaxone... This antibacterial drug should be used with great caution in the treatment of premature infants. It is better if such treatment takes place in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor. The drug has its pros and cons. The plus is that it can be taken by children of all ages just once a day. And the minus is that Ceftriaxone is not produced either in tablets or in suspension. Only injections are possible. Children over 12 years old - 1-2 gr. drug. For newborns up to 2 weeks, the maximum dosage is 20-50 mg. for every kilogram of weight. For children under 12 years of age, the daily dosage is from 20 to 75 mg per kilogram of body weight.
Antibiotics of other groups for the treatment of intestinal infections:
- "Furazolidone"... An antibiotic representing the nitrofuran family. Available in tablets, suspension granules and powders. Contraindicated in children under 1 year of age. Usually prescribed in a dosage of 10 mg. for each kilogram of the child's weight, the amount obtained is divided into 4 doses per day. Recommended for babies in the form of a suspension.
- Ersefuril... Another antibiotic is nitrofuran. For children from 1 month old, the drug is given two or three times a day, 100 mg. Babies from 2.5 years old and adolescents up to 14 years old are prescribed 100 mg each. three times a day. For adolescents 14 and older, 200 mg in 4 divided doses (every six hours). The drug can be given to adolescents in capsules, and to babies - in the form of a 4% suspension.
- "Intetrix"... This antibiotic, synthesized in France relatively recently, has no analogues in terms of the active substance. The antibiotic is available in capsules. Manufacturers claim that the medicine is contraindicated in children under 14 years of age, but pediatricians use Intetrix to treat intestinal infections, however, the dosage is set individually for each child. At 2 years old, at 4 years old or at 7 years old, a single dose will be different.
- "Phtalazol"... This is a real "long-liver" among intestinal antibiotics. They have been treating such diseases for more than half a century. Modern pediatricians argue that there is no need to give "Phtalazol" to children under 3 years old, especially since now there are many new and more effective antibiotics. However, all experts agree that the "good old" Phthalazol is quite safe for children. The daily dose of antibiotic for children under 3 years old is 0.2 g per kilogram of weight, children over 6 years old can be given 0.4-0.8 g. per kilogram of weight. An antibiotic is produced only in tablets.
- "Biseptol"... This antibiotic is available in tablets, injectable powders and suspensions, or ready-made solution for oral administration. The drug can be given to children from one and a half months. Babies can be given 5 ml of suspension or ready-made solution once a day. Schoolchildren under 12 years of age are given 460-480 mg twice a day.
Also, the doctor may prescribe "Azithromycin", "Clarithromycin" or a relatively young drug "Lecor".
General rules for antibiotic treatment of gastrointestinal tract infections in children:
- The average course of therapy is from 3 to 14 days. The doctor will determine the duration of treatment on a case-by-case basis, based on the severity of the symptoms, the diagnosis, and the baby's age. When improvement occurs, do not reduce the dosage on your own or stop taking the drug altogether. The bacteria that survive will become resistant to this type of antibiotic. And next time it will be difficult for you to find an effective drug.
- When treating with antibiotics, the child should follow a diet, drink more fluids.
You can find out about intestinal infection by watching the video of Dr. Komarovsky:
