Do not overuse antibiotics for cold symptoms

As colder temperatures approach, parents may start feeling like their children are getting one cold after another all winter long. Colds are caused by viruses. Because young children haven't built up immunity to the more than 100 different cold viruses that are around, they can get as many as eight to 10 colds each year before they turn two years old.

"Infections are caused by germs (viruses and bacteria) that are in the air we breathe and much more commonly on things that we touch. Some germs can live for hours outside the body of the sick person they came from," said Dr. Joan Robinson, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in Edmonton, Alberta and chair of the Canadian Paediatric Society's Immunization and Infectious Disease Committee. "When germs enter the body, they can cause an infection and a fever. Fever is a good sign because it means the body is fighting to kill the germs."

Antibiotics are prescribed by doctors to kill infections caused by bacteria. They do not kill viruses so they do not work for colds. However, there are drugs called antivirals that are used to treat some serious infections from viruses such as influenza or chickenpox.

Antibiotics kill bacteria or stop them from growing and reproducing. There are many different kinds of antibiotics that kill different kinds of bacteria.

Recently, though, some antibiotics have stopped working to kill certain bacteria because the bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics. When an infection can't be treated with the usual antibiotics, sometimes newer (and often more expensive) antibiotics with more side effects must be used.

"If an antibiotic is used for the wrong reason, in the wrong dose, or for the wrong amount of time, bacteria can become resistant to the medicine," said Dr. Robinson. "One of the main reasons bacteria have become resistant is because antibiotics have been used too much."

To help prevent antibiotic resistance you can:

Your child should receive antibiotics only to treat an infection caused by bacteria. Colds are caused by viruses, and should not be treated with antibiotics. Even some mild bacterial infections such as ear infections or sinus infections do not always need antibiotics. Ask your doctor what the infection is and if an antibiotic is necessary.

When your child is sick, it's best to see her own doctor. That way, the record of all her medication use will be in one place. Avoid going to different walk-in clinics if you can.

If your child is prescribed antibiotics, be sure to give them according to the instructions.

Never use antibiotics prescribed for someone else.

Never use antibiotics left over from a previous illness. If you have unused antibiotics in your house, you should bring them to the pharmacy for safe disposal.

November 14 to 20, 2011 is Antibiotic Awareness Week and several Canadian organizations are working to promote the prudent use of antibiotics. For more information on how to use antibiotics wisely, visit AntibioticAwareness.ca.

An ongoing Canadian initiative, AntibioticAwareness.ca is coordinated by health-related organizations across Canada.