With the development of pneumonia, there is often fever that develops late in the illness. The children often become irritable and cranky or lethargic and sleepy, may refuse to eat or drink and on examination, may have features suggestive of pneumonia but may just have tachypnoea and even grunting in the younger child. These children should obviously be treated with antibiotics. Pharyngitis - Principles of judicious use of antimicrobial agents. The significant worldwide increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria has made it imperative that we only use antibiotics when properly indicated.
Antibiotics are among the most important drugs available in our society.
We as physicians together with you as parents must become more responsible in using antibiotics wisely. Each time a child takes an antibiotic, sensitive bacteria are killed, and resistant ones are left behind to grow and multiply. Repeated use of antibiotics is one of the main causes for the increase in resistant bacteria. These resistant bacteria can be spread to others in the family and the community. There are a number of different types of ear infections, some of which need treatment and some which do not.