Lately Pediatricians have diagnosed something as viral, only for us to return and require antibiotics

[Anonymous]

It’s happened to all three of my kids in recent years. When symptoms lasted longer than a week or so, or worsened, we have been told to return and then are given antibiotics. Everything seems to clear up from that point.

What’s going on with this? Is it to see if antibiotics are needed or too much reliance on the RSV, Strep, Flu, COVID swabs?

Is it the way my kids present with illness?

[Anonymous]

Antibiotics are no longer overprescribed.

[Anonymous]

Viral respiratory infections often lead to secondary bacterial infections if they persist for long periods of time. This is common and not a new phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Maybe because they become bacterial infections duh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Antibiotics are no longer overprescribed.

Actually, antibiotics are vastly overprescribed — to livestock. This has always been the problem, not an occasional unnecessary prescription or one where someone doesn’t take the last pill or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Viral respiratory infections often lead to secondary bacterial infections if they persist for long periods of time. This is common and not a new phenomenon.

In order to stop these viruses likely turning into bacterial infection they would prescribe it as early as possible to avoid the long drawn out process of an extended illness caused from the inevitable bacteria with pain and missing out on school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Viral respiratory infections often lead to secondary bacterial infections if they persist for long periods of time. This is common and not a new phenomenon.

This. I am as anti-prophylactic antibiotics as they come — and I’m also a hospital based nurse that’s on the unit’s antibiotic stewardship committee.

Sometimes you just get a bacterial infection in your sinuses or lungs. Or ears

My own son always gets it in his lungs three weeks later. Once it was was pneumonia. I actually demand sputum test so that we get the correct antibiotics. …..

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you're bringing your kids to the doc at the onset of colds and other viruses, is that right?

Talk to your pediatrician but usually that's not necessary. It's always been recommended to us to wait a while, giving rest/fluids/ibuprofen if needed and then see if things are trending toward improving. If not, that's when you go to the ped.

[Anonymous]

Antibiotics are the new Oxycontin. They definitely were overprescribed but now they are impossible to get. Not my kid but I spent 5 months with an ebbing and flowing "viral" respiratory infection before ending up in the hospital with a 105 fever and raging pneumonia when it was so clear the rest and Gatorade was not doing it.

[Anonymous]

It seems as if you don’t have good communication with your pediatrician, good enough to ask since medicine is not your field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s happened to all three of my kids in recent years. When symptoms lasted longer than a week or so, or worsened, we have been told to return and then are given antibiotics. Everything seems to clear up from that point.

What’s going on with this? Is it to see if antibiotics are needed or too much reliance on the RSV, Strep, Flu, COVID swabs?

Is it the way my kids present with illness?

If it's just "symptoms for a week" you might still be getting over prescribed on antibiotics.

Secondary infections do exist but doctors aren't generally going to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics because it can do a number on your gut.

You should talk to your doctor because this does seem like if this is a recurring issue, something unusual is happening. It's not typical for a kid to need antibiotics that much.

[Anonymous]

The illnesses became -now- became bacterial infections.

It happens with some illnesses, not with others. Not all people. Not all times. Unable to predict.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Viral respiratory infections often lead to secondary bacterial infections if they persist for long periods of time. This is common and not a new phenomenon.

This. Viruses often either give pneumonia or ear infections.

I felt gaslighted for so long by people saying it was just a coincidence that antibiotics worked for a viral infection. But they do!

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else really sick right now? My entire family is so sick- coughing, fever, chest pain, green mucus. I can't believe it because it's June!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else really sick right now? My entire family is so sick- coughing, fever, chest pain, green mucus. I can't believe it because it's June!

When you got the green mucus you can assume bacterial.