We need to use antibiotics carefully, or they’ll stop working

Antibiotics save lives by helping your body to fight infections caused by bacteria. Overusing antibiotics, especially when we don’t need to, is causing antibiotic resistance. It’s a global health threat, and we all need to help keep antibiotics working.

Colds and flu

Viruses cause 100% of colds and flu. That means colds and flu can’t be fixed with antibiotics, and taking antibiotics won’t stop your cold or flu from getting worse. Antibiotics only help your body to fight infections caused by bacteria. Here’s what will help you feel better faster.

The 5 best ways to treat a cold or flu

Rest

Your body needs to rest in a warm, comfortable place to help your immune system fight the virus that caused your cold or flu. Stay home and take time off work or school if you need to.

Fluids

Drink plenty of fluids (water or diluted fruit juice are great choices) to stop the membranes in your nose and throat getting dry, and keep your body well hydrated.

Pain relief

Take regular paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve any aches and pains or reduce a fever. Always take pain medication according to the dosage advised on the packet, or by your doctor or pharmacist.

Decongestants

A decongestant tablet or nasal spray may help dry a runny nose or relieve a blocked one, and give you some relief. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to suggest the right decongestant.

Lozenges & gargles

Sucking on a throat lozenge can soothe a sore throat. Gargling several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt in 1 cup water) can also help. Gargle the salt water in your throat for about 30 seconds and then spit it out.

Remember, rest and time off is important

Most cold and flu symptoms usually clear by themselves in 7 to 10 days, but it can sometimes take a few weeks to feel back to your usual self. It’s a good idea to rest and stay away from work or school when you are feeling most unwell, are sneezing or coughing often, or you have a very runny nose. You will still be infectious for 7-14 days after the start of a cold or flu, so do your best to stop spreading the virus to others.

Minimising the spread of colds and flu

There are simple things you and your family can do to stop the spread of colds and flu at home, school or at work. Here are some basic actions that everyone can take.

• Get immunised – don’t forget your annual influenza vaccination.
• Catch coughs and sneezes in the crook of your arm, or with a tissue. Throw the tissue into the bin, and wash your hands afterwards. 
• Wash your hands often, with soap, for 20 seconds, and dry them well afterwards. 
• Clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces regularly.
• Stay home and away from others when you’re sick.

Do you need to go to the doctor?

If you are usually healthy and well, your immune system will take care of most colds and flu.

See your doctor if you have:

• trouble breathing
• chest pain
• a skin rash
• a severe headache, stiff neck, or are sensitive to light.
• painful cough.

If your child has a cold or the flu, and is not improving, refusing food or drinks, is very irritable, grizzly or sleepy, or has a fever, sore ears, a cough, or a sore throat, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

If you are at all worried about your condition:

• Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
• Call Healthline free 24 hours a day: 0800 611 116

In an emergency, visit your local hospital or call 111.

We need to use antibiotics carefully, or they’ll stop working

Overusing antibiotics, especially when we don’t need to, is causing antibiotic resistance – where bacteria get better at defending themselves and our antibiotics don’t work as well. Over time, antibiotics could stop working when we need them to, putting people’s lives at risk. It’s a global health threat, and we all need to help keep antibiotics working.

Earache:

If you think your child has an earache, take them to your family doctor. They’ll look inside your child’s ears and tell you if they have an ear infection and how best to treat it.

Most earaches need pain relief not antibiotics

Earaches are one of the most common reasons parents take young children to the doctor. Antibiotics won’t help most ear infections get better any faster in children over 2 years. That’s why most earaches need pain relief, not antibiotics.

Pain from an ear infection usually comes on quickly and lasts for around a day. Pain relief medicines (like paracetamol and ibuprofen) will help relieve a fever and any pain or discomfort, and help your child feel better. It can help to keep your child home from childcare or school while they’re not feeling well and give them the chance to rest in a warm, comfortable place.

Remember, a check is always best with an earache

Your doctor is the best person to tell you what the best treatment for your child is and whether antibiotics are needed for any infection. They might want to recheck your child’s ears around 6-12 weeks later to make sure any fluid in the ears had gone, and prevent any future ear or hearing problems.

Signs and symptoms of an ear infection

In babies and younger children, the only sign of an ear infection might be a fever, but they may also:

• cry or grizzle more than usual
• be hard to settle
• keep touching their sore ear
• have a fever.

An older child will often complain about ear pain and may also have a fever. They might also feel unwell and have some problems hearing.

See your doctor as soon as you can if your child has:

• fluid coming out of their ears
• nausea or vomiting
• a severe headache, stiff neck, or really bad pain in the ear
• is sensitive to light.

Worried about your child’s condition?

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice from a trained registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or in an emergency, visit your local hospital or call 111.

We need to use antibiotics carefully, or they’ll stop working

Overusing antibiotics especially when we don’t need to, is causing antibiotic resistance – where bacteria get better at defending themselves and our antibiotics don’t work as well. Over time antibiotics could stop working when we need them to, putting people’s lives at risk. It’s a global health threat, and we all need to help keep antibiotics working.

Some infections need antibiotics

There are some infections where antibiotics are the best treatment. It’s important to take antibiotics safely and always follow your doctor, nurse or pharmacist’s advice if you are prescribed antibiotics.

Infections that require antibiotics

Trust your doctor’s advice. They’ll tell you if antibiotics are the right treatment for you. Doctors don’t usually recommend antibiotics for infections like colds, coughs, flu and most ear, nose and throat infections, where they won’t make you get better any faster. If you have generally good health, your body’s immune system can easily fight these infections without antibiotics. Antibiotics are normally only prescribed for more serious infections caused by bacteria like pneumonia, whooping cough, and meningococcal disease. In these situations, antibiotics can be lifesaving.

When should I see a doctor?

If you’re feeling unwell, you should always see your doctor if you have:

• trouble breathing
• chest pain
• a skin rash
• a severe headache, stiff neck, or are sensitive to light.
• a painful cough.

If your child has a cold or the flu and is not improving, refusing food or drinks, is very irritable, or sleepy, or has a fever, sore ears, a cough, or a sore throat, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

If you are at all worried about your condition:

• Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
• Call Healthline free 24 hours a day: 0800 611 116

In an emergency, visit your local hospital or call 111.

Taking antibiotics safely

Safe use of all medicines, including antibiotics, is very important. Here’s how to take antibiotics safely.

Only the person prescribed the antibiotics (whose name is on the label) should use the antibiotics. Read the label every time you give or take the medicine.

Double check:

• who the medicine is for
• when to use it
• how much to use
• how to use it
• how long to use it for.

For liquid antibiotics:

• shake the bottle well before each dose
• use a proper medicine measure:
  • a dropper or oral syringe for a baby
  • a measuring spoon or a medicine measuring cup for an older child or adult.

Tips for giving medicine to kids

Getting children to take medicine is sometimes challenging. But with a little creativity, parents and caregivers can make it an easier experience for themselves as well as their children. Here are some practical and helpful tips to help babies, toddlers and children take different kinds of medicine.

Always take your doctor, nurse or pharmacist’s advice on taking antibiotics.

Giving medicines to children

Having trouble getting your child to take their medicine?

Children can be good medicine takers if they learn to be.

With a little creativity, parents & caregivers can make their children’s medicine taking an easier experience for themselves as well as their children.

• Be confident, kind and firm about medicine taking.
• Let your child know when you are ready to give their medicine. Even if he/she fusses, the medicine still needs to be given as directed.
• Stay calm and firm – but never force your child to take their medicine. If they are persistent in refusing, try again after about half an hour.
• If a dose is missed, skip the missed dose and continue with the next dose when it is due. Do not double dose.
• Explain to your child that the medicine is to make them feel better – don’t call the medicine a treat.
• Reverse psychology – tell your child it’s a very special medicine and they’re only allowed to have it twice/three times a day (depending on the dosing timetable) – it’s amazing how often this works and makes the child eager to take it!

Eye drops

Get your child to lie with their head in your lap and their eyes closed – put the prescribed number of drops in the corner of the eye near the nose and when your child opens their eyes and blinks the eye drops will spread like magic!

Tablets/capsules

Check with your pharmacist first to make sure it’s okay to crush a tablet or pull apart a capsule – some medicines may not do the job they’re supposed to do or may irritate the stomach if you break up the protective coating.

Help tablets slip down in a small spoonful of apple-sauce, ice cream, or yoghurt.

Tips for helping children swallow capsules

Children can typically be given capsules and be taught to easily swallow them. Here are some things to try:

• Ask the child look down at the floor instead of up at the ceiling.
• Slip the capsule into the child’s mouth.
• Ask the child to take a big drink of water or their favourite drink while still looking at the floor. The capsule should float to the back of the child’s mouth and roll down their throat with the drink.

Another way is to put the capsule into a small spoonful of apple-sauce or ice cream. This can help capsules to slip down the throat more easily.

Liquids

Use a proper medicine cup or oral syringe to measure up the dose of medicine – don’t use a normal kitchen teaspoon as it’s not an exact measure. You should be able to get an oral syringe from your pharmacist.

It’s important that children take their medicines as they’re prescribed. Let your doctor know if there have been problems with your child’s medicine taking.

Giving medicines to babies

• You could wrap your baby gently in a towel/wrap to stop baby’s arms getting in the way of your medicine giving.
• Use an oral medicine syringe and squirt a little medicine into the mouth onto the inside cheek where there are no bitter taste buds. Usually baby will swallow if the syringe is far enough back in the mouth.
• Avoid mixing medicine in your baby’s bottle because if the bottle is not finished, the baby will not get the right dose. Mixing the medicine with a small amount of formula/breast milk may be ok – check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Gently stroke their throat downward to help with swallowing if necessary.

Giving medicines to toddlers and young children

Let your child use a straw to sip liquid medicine up from a spoon or favourite cup. Remember to follow with water or juice through the straw to make sure that the whole dose is taken.

If your child complains about the taste of the medicine:

• Give a ‘chaser’ of something the child likes after taking the medicine, such as a teaspoon of chocolate sauce or a drink of apple or orange juice or breast milk/breast feed.
• Let your child suck on an ice block to numb the taste buds before taking the medicine.
• Get your child to hold his/her nose while taking the medicine in order to dull the sense of taste.

Some children may prefer to take a tablet or capsule instead of a liquid medicine – talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you think this may be an option for your child.

Try to give your child choices where possible – e.g. whether they want to have their bath before or after their medicine, or what drink they want to have after they’ve taken their medicine, or what sticker they’d like after taking their medicine etc.