I work hard (as do most doctors) to avoid prescribing antibiotics when unnecessary. The reason? I'm concerned about both the short term effects (diarrhea, rash, allergies) and long term effects (drug resistance, altered normal bacteria and microbes on our bodies) of antibiotic use in children. As we learn more about health and about the role of "good" bacteria in wellness preservation, I suspect we will feel more and more compelled to avoid antibiotics in children. Less is often more.
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Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, is a practicing pediatrician and the mother of two young boys. Read her blog at https://seattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.org/
