Doctors Overprescribe Antibiotics for Kids

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Thirty-five years ago, when the first of my four kids was a tiny tot, I was eager to learn everything I could about natural treatments for common kid’s conditions. There wasn’t much information available on how to use natural remedies, and most folks I knew took their kids to the doctor’s office for every fever and sniffle, accepting whatever medication was handed out as the solution. I knew that there was a healthier way to treat my son rather than to treat every symptom with an antibiotic.

I remember feeling anxious and vulnerable treating that first fever and upper respiratory infection he had, choosing not to use conventional therapies. What if I missed a dangerous illness? How would I know if my little one was really sick and needed a medicine? Could I really trust the bond I felt between my baby and me to guide my intuition and common sense in decision-making around health care issues? Could I really trust herbs and foods to help?

Now, three decades into using natural medicines, I have treated many hundreds of children, and through my books and classes, have supported thousands of families in taking care of their kids naturally. I have gained tremendous insight into when and how to use herbs and other natural approaches safely and effectively, and when medical care is appropriate – and still believe that moms generally do know when their kids are well, and when they are not.

This article provides you with resources that give you clear, simple guidelines that you can use to make intelligent choices about antibiotic use, and links you up with some of my favorite recipes for fever, cough, and ear infections in kids.

Does My Child Need an Antibiotic?

According to research by the CDC, despite over a decade of trying to get pediatricians to reduce antibiotic overprescribing, overall doctors are still unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics for kids more than 50% of the time – most of the overprescribing is for common upper respiratory and ear infections. While overprescribing rates have come down in recent years, they have not come down enough – and overprescribing remains a chronic problem.

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is the primary cause of antibiotic resistance, which is a major global public health problem. Further, medical science is waking up to the fact that pediatric antibiotic exposure is not benign, and may lead to asthma, eczema, and the development of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease later in life.

Other commonly prescribed adjunct therapies for common kids’ infections, for example, Tylenol and ibuprofen carry the potential for serious side effects, including the development of asthma and gastrointestinal bleeding, respectively. Tylenol overuse is one of the most common causes of liver failure in the United States. While antibiotics and other medications can be are lifesaving when necessary, when overprescribed and misused, the consequences can be deadly!

Antibiotics are often given unnecessarily for common pediatric infections because doctors think that parents want or expect them. Indeed, I’ve had to talk dozens of parents out of an antibiotics prescription – they are accustomed to doctors giving meds, and they are afraid and don’t want their kids to suffer. Doctors also prescribe antibiotics because they are worried about missing a serious diagnosis – and then there is also fear of litigation for the rare missed or under-treated infection.

Here are some facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Get Smart program to reduce excess antibiotic use in children:

You generally do not have to treat fever. Comfort measures and lot of fluids are the most important treatments for most kids.
Antibiotics do not treat coughs due to viral infections and are almost never indicated for coughs due to colds or bronchitis but are overprescribed for both.
Ear infection is the most common reason for a pediatric office visit, and one of the most common conditions leading to antibiotic over-prescription. Approximately 80% of kids with acute otitis media get better without antibiotics!

I’m an advocate of avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use, and the fact is, for common pediatric infections, they’re unnecessary. Natural approaches can play a huge role in supporting health and comfort while avoiding unnecessary medications.

A Global and Personal Health Problem

The inappropriate use of antibiotics is now well known to be a major cause of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance has been called one of the world's most pressing public health problems and international campaigns are underway to help reduce over-prescribing. Additionally, new information is being raised about pediatric antibiotic exposure and later development of asthma. Antibiotics are often given unnecessarily for common pediatric infections because doctors think that parents want or expect them. Sometimes doctors also prescribe them because they are worried about missing a more serious infection.

How do you know if your child needs an antibiotic for an upper respiratory infection? If you or your doctor have good reason to think your child has a serious bacterial infection, if your child has strep throat, or if your child is less than 2 years old and has an ear infection, then an antibiotic might be appropriate. However, most of the time, moderate fevers, sore throats, coughs, colds, bronchitis, runny noses, and uncomplicated sinusitis (not longer than 2 weeks and no high fever or facial pain) are caused by viral infections and do not need to be treated with an antibiotic. Talking with your doctor about this issue can help your child get the best and most appropriate medical care possible. Also consider providing your pediatrician or family doc the link to the CDC's Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work site.

Common Sense Comfort

There are a lot of simple over-the-counter and healthy alternatives you can use to relieve symptoms of colds, flu, ear infections and sore throat, and the fever and aches that often accompany them.

Common sense tips

Encourage plenty of rest
Provide plenty of fluids (water, broth, and non-caffeinated herbal teas are best; avoid sugary drinks, including juice if possible, and milk – these increase congestion and decrease immunity)
Use a cool mist vaporizer (NEVER use hot steam or hot water near a child!) in your child's room
Take your child into a steamy bathroom for coughs and nasal congestion (see below for herbal suggestions)
Avoid second-hand smoke and other chemicals irritants
Soothe a sore throat with ice chips or fresh fruit ice pops – this is a great way to get some extra fluids into a feverish little one. Most ice pops have about 4 oz of fluid.

Over-the-counter medications

Ibuprofen can be given every 8 hours in the appropriate dose for your child's weight to relieve discomfort and slightly bring down a fever. There is little benefit to using Tylenol compared to ibuprofen and Tylenol toxicity can be a problem if overused. There is also only a minimal role for treating fever. Fever is a physiological mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the main goal in treating a fever is actually just providing comfort.

What You Can Do Instead

So what can you do to support your child and reduce symptoms when antibiotics aren't indicated, but your child has fever or cold symptoms, or an earache or cough – and feels awful? A number of herbs, supplements, and natural remedies can be used safely to relieve upper respiratory symptoms and boost immunity.

Coughs and Chest Congestion

Conventional cough syrups have been found to be harmful and less effective than honey, which can be safely given to kids over 2 years old to help relieve a cough.

Several herbal medicines including teas of thyme, anise, and licorice, as well as extracts of ivy and petasites (must be called PA-free to be safe!), which are popular in Europe, have been shown to relieve cough in kids.
Elderberry syrup is a delicious tasting traditional remedy with great evidence for improving respiratory immunity.
Echinacea extract, while it doesn't relieve cough, has been shown to prevent recurrence of coughs in kids.
Vick's VapoRub is a classic remedy and great for relieving coughs. Rub a small amount onto your child's chest. (NEVER put it anywhere on the face or near the nose!)
Saline rinsing can be used by and saline sprays can be used for babies and with runny noses and sinus congestion/infection.
Put 3-5 drops of thyme essential oil and 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil on a washcloth and put this in a hot shower. Let the bathroom fill with steam and bring your little one or older child into the bathroom for 5 minutes before sleep to help ease congestion and promote sleep.
10 mg zinc for kids 2-7 years old and 20 mg for kids 8-14 years old can decrease the duration of an upper respiratory infection.

Ear Infections

Garlic-Mullein oil is a trusted traditional remedy for earache and ear infections. It is almost always reliable and provides both pain-relieving and antimicrobial properties. It is also easy to use and many health-food stores carry it. A few drops in the affected ear 2-3 times a day for 48 hours usually does the trick. NEVER put anything in the ear if you see drainage or suspect a ruptured eardrum. For a complete article on preventing and treating ear infections naturally, head over here.

For Achy, Fussy, Feverish Kids

A quiet comfortable environment is the first step.

Don't underestimate the value of touch in healing – your cool hand or a cool cloth on the forehead and a gentle foot rub with a little bit of soothing lavender oil on your hands can go a long way to bring comfort.
Chamomile and Lemon Balm teas are reliable favorites that herbalists have turned to for centuries to ease the discomfort of a fever including achiness, tummy upset, headache, and restlessness, and they can slightly reduce fever as well, if your little one is running a little too hot for your comfort zone.
Elder flower and mint tea is another reliable combination. Keep in mind that it's usually not necessary to treat a fever; it is important to treat underlying infection if there is anything more threatening than a simple viral or mild bacterial infection, and to prevent dehydration, which is the biggest risk of untreated fever. These teas can be given plain or sweetened with honey for kids over 2, or 25% of apple or pear juice for toddlers new to the taste of herbal teas. Kids herbal tinctures made in a glycerine base are sweet to taste and can be given at any age.

Want to Learn More?

Here are a few of my top blogs and podcasts on common kids' symptoms and conditions to get you started confidently in caring for your kids at home naturally, and knowing when medications are needed.

Want to learn how treat your kids' common illnesses with natural remedies? Get your free Ebook Herbs for Kids: Taking Charge of Your Child's Health Naturally. If you have a copy, pull it out – now's a great time to start using it. If you don't have one, it's easy to get – simply sign and you'll get immediate access. There is no cost.

If you want to take a deep dive into learning how to use natural remedies for most common kids' conditions, join my course, Healthy All Year. It's a course that will get you confident in natural medicine for your kids, a reference when you need it most, and an online community, too!