A NEW campaign is reminding people that antibiotics and medicines are not always the answer to winter illnesses in children.
As youngsters return to schools and nurseries after the Christmas break, cases of common illnesses are set to rise.
But medical chiefs in Staffordshire say things such as sore throats and ear ache are often caused by viral infections which are not affected by antibiotics.
Now a new Super Bodies campaign is offering information for parents and carers on simple things they can do to treat common ailments at home, as well as helping them spot the signs of a more serious illness which would require medical help.
Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), said:
“Children are likely to pick up common viruses at this time of year, especially while mixing in school and nursery environments, but they are usually nothing to worry about.
“Their super bodies get to work and most children with a normal immune system and up-to-date immunisations will fight off these common illnesses with a little TLC at home.
“The evidence shows that most children actually recover from these ailments in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics, which have no effect on viruses and so don’t actually help to fight off the infection.”
Parents and carers of young children can find information on treating coughs, earaches and sore throats at home, on the Super Bodies webpage, as well as finding a list of more serious signs and symptoms to look out for.
Amin Mitha, associate director for medicines optimisation at the ICB, added:
“Antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat most infections. They are often unlikely to speed up the healing process, they can cause unwanted side effects such as diarrhoea, and your child will usually get better without taking unnecessary medication.
“Overusing antibiotics can also contribute to antibiotic resistance, which means that these medications are becoming less effective at killing off bacteria. This is a very serious threat to the health of our population, but we can all help to fight back by only using antibiotics when they are needed.
“You know your children best, so do seek medical help if you are concerned about their symptoms, or if their bodies need a bit more support because they are immunosuppressed or have other existing medical conditions.”
