Antibiotics????

[mom2cameron]

Ok so my 6 month old son with cf had a bronchoscope done last monday (a week ago). It was all clear. He had been sick for over 2 months. They had tried 2 different antibiotics for the cold he had. He was really congested, cough, and sometimes would run a low fever. Well the week before this procedure they stopped his antibiotics to prepare for the test. His symtoms stopped, he was actually doing really good when we went to the hospital for the bronch. That day he started to cough. He was expected to do so after the bronch but it has still been going on a week later now.( oh and he has runny/stuffy noise at times) I called the cf doc and he says its not from the procedure and that we needed to start him on antibiotics to treat it. He says anytime a cfer has a cough for more than 5-7 days then they need to be started on antibiotics. My friend says it will weaken his immune system if we keep putting him on meds everytime he has a cold. So my question is does anyone else get meds after a week of a cold and should he be getting them with every cold? Does it make them more resistant to meds later?

 

[mom2cameron]

Ok so my 6 month old son with cf had a bronchoscope done last monday (a week ago). It was all clear. He had been sick for over 2 months. They had tried 2 different antibiotics for the cold he had. He was really congested, cough, and sometimes would run a low fever. Well the week before this procedure they stopped his antibiotics to prepare for the test. His symtoms stopped, he was actually doing really good when we went to the hospital for the bronch. That day he started to cough. He was expected to do so after the bronch but it has still been going on a week later now.( oh and he has runny/stuffy noise at times) I called the cf doc and he says its not from the procedure and that we needed to start him on antibiotics to treat it. He says anytime a cfer has a cough for more than 5-7 days then they need to be started on antibiotics. My friend says it will weaken his immune system if we keep putting him on meds everytime he has a cold. So my question is does anyone else get meds after a week of a cold and should he be getting them with every cold? Does it make them more resistant to meds later?

 

[mom2cameron]

Ok so my 6 month old son with cf had a bronchoscope done last monday (a week ago). It was all clear. He had been sick for over 2 months. They had tried 2 different antibiotics for the cold he had. He was really congested, cough, and sometimes would run a low fever. Well the week before this procedure they stopped his antibiotics to prepare for the test. His symtoms stopped, he was actually doing really good when we went to the hospital for the bronch. That day he started to cough. He was expected to do so after the bronch but it has still been going on a week later now.( oh and he has runny/stuffy noise at times) I called the cf doc and he says its not from the procedure and that we needed to start him on antibiotics to treat it. He says anytime a cfer has a cough for more than 5-7 days then they need to be started on antibiotics. My friend says it will weaken his immune system if we keep putting him on meds everytime he has a cold. So my question is does anyone else get meds after a week of a cold and should he be getting them with every cold? Does it make them more resistant to meds later?

 

[mom2cameron]

Ok so my 6 month old son with cf had a bronchoscope done last monday (a week ago). It was all clear. He had been sick for over 2 months. They had tried 2 different antibiotics for the cold he had. He was really congested, cough, and sometimes would run a low fever. Well the week before this procedure they stopped his antibiotics to prepare for the test. His symtoms stopped, he was actually doing really good when we went to the hospital for the bronch. That day he started to cough. He was expected to do so after the bronch but it has still been going on a week later now.( oh and he has runny/stuffy noise at times) I called the cf doc and he says its not from the procedure and that we needed to start him on antibiotics to treat it. He says anytime a cfer has a cough for more than 5-7 days then they need to be started on antibiotics. My friend says it will weaken his immune system if we keep putting him on meds everytime he has a cold. So my question is does anyone else get meds after a week of a cold and should he be getting them with every cold? Does it make them more resistant to meds later?

 

[mom2cameron]

Ok so my 6 month old son with cf had a bronchoscope done last monday (a week ago). It was all clear. He had been sick for over 2 months. They had tried 2 different antibiotics for the cold he had. He was really congested, cough, and sometimes would run a low fever. Well the week before this procedure they stopped his antibiotics to prepare for the test. His symtoms stopped, he was actually doing really good when we went to the hospital for the bronch. That day he started to cough. He was expected to do so after the bronch but it has still been going on a week later now.( oh and he has runny/stuffy noise at times) I called the cf doc and he says its not from the procedure and that we needed to start him on antibiotics to treat it. He says anytime a cfer has a cough for more than 5-7 days then they need to be started on antibiotics. My friend says it will weaken his immune system if we keep putting him on meds everytime he has a cold. So my question is does anyone else get meds after a week of a cold and should he be getting them with every cold? Does it make them more resistant to meds later?

 

[pipersmom]

Lyndsi,

I can only tell you my experience, but yes, any time Piper had resp symptoms for a week or more, she used to go on Bactrim. The thing with CFers is that it doesn't take a lot for something as simple as a cold to turn into something much worse and land them in the hosp. For a normal child, no, antibiotics aren't, and shouldn't be given as a routine thing, but for our kids that just isn't always an option. You'll find the Drs will usually try to hold back from using stronger antibiotics unless absolutely necessary because of the resistance thing..ie, saving the best for last. Because of the comps Piper has had in the last year or so, she now takes Bactrim 2-3X daily, depending on what she has going on, which is why I used past tense up there^^^. Hope this helps ease your mind somewhat. Also, never be afraid to ask your Docs when you have questions, I think they appreciate well informed parents.

Amanda
Mom to Piper 8yo wcf

 

[pipersmom]

Lyndsi,

I can only tell you my experience, but yes, any time Piper had resp symptoms for a week or more, she used to go on Bactrim. The thing with CFers is that it doesn't take a lot for something as simple as a cold to turn into something much worse and land them in the hosp. For a normal child, no, antibiotics aren't, and shouldn't be given as a routine thing, but for our kids that just isn't always an option. You'll find the Drs will usually try to hold back from using stronger antibiotics unless absolutely necessary because of the resistance thing..ie, saving the best for last. Because of the comps Piper has had in the last year or so, she now takes Bactrim 2-3X daily, depending on what she has going on, which is why I used past tense up there^^^. Hope this helps ease your mind somewhat. Also, never be afraid to ask your Docs when you have questions, I think they appreciate well informed parents.

Amanda
Mom to Piper 8yo wcf

 

[pipersmom]

Lyndsi,

I can only tell you my experience, but yes, any time Piper had resp symptoms for a week or more, she used to go on Bactrim. The thing with CFers is that it doesn't take a lot for something as simple as a cold to turn into something much worse and land them in the hosp. For a normal child, no, antibiotics aren't, and shouldn't be given as a routine thing, but for our kids that just isn't always an option. You'll find the Drs will usually try to hold back from using stronger antibiotics unless absolutely necessary because of the resistance thing..ie, saving the best for last. Because of the comps Piper has had in the last year or so, she now takes Bactrim 2-3X daily, depending on what she has going on, which is why I used past tense up there^^^. Hope this helps ease your mind somewhat. Also, never be afraid to ask your Docs when you have questions, I think they appreciate well informed parents.

Amanda
Mom to Piper 8yo wcf

 

[pipersmom]

Lyndsi,

I can only tell you my experience, but yes, any time Piper had resp symptoms for a week or more, she used to go on Bactrim. The thing with CFers is that it doesn't take a lot for something as simple as a cold to turn into something much worse and land them in the hosp. For a normal child, no, antibiotics aren't, and shouldn't be given as a routine thing, but for our kids that just isn't always an option. You'll find the Drs will usually try to hold back from using stronger antibiotics unless absolutely necessary because of the resistance thing..ie, saving the best for last. Because of the comps Piper has had in the last year or so, she now takes Bactrim 2-3X daily, depending on what she has going on, which is why I used past tense up there^^^. Hope this helps ease your mind somewhat. Also, never be afraid to ask your Docs when you have questions, I think they appreciate well informed parents.

Amanda
Mom to Piper 8yo wcf

 

[pipersmom]

Lyndsi,
<br />
<br />I can only tell you my experience, but yes, any time Piper had resp symptoms for a week or more, she used to go on Bactrim. The thing with CFers is that it doesn't take a lot for something as simple as a cold to turn into something much worse and land them in the hosp. For a normal child, no, antibiotics aren't, and shouldn't be given as a routine thing, but for our kids that just isn't always an option. You'll find the Drs will usually try to hold back from using stronger antibiotics unless absolutely necessary because of the resistance thing..ie, saving the best for last. Because of the comps Piper has had in the last year or so, she now takes Bactrim 2-3X daily, depending on what she has going on, which is why I used past tense up there^^^. Hope this helps ease your mind somewhat. Also, never be afraid to ask your Docs when you have questions, I think they appreciate well informed parents.
<br />
<br />Amanda
<br />Mom to Piper 8yo wcf

 

[Ratatosk]

Our doctor too prefers no cough. So if DS develops a cough, he's usually put on an abx. IMO, I'd tend to trust my CF doctor. Especially since they most likely cultured the stuff from the broncoscopy to determine what it was and which drugs the bug would respond too.

I'm sure your friend means well, but people wcf have different needs than healthy children...

 

[Ratatosk]

Our doctor too prefers no cough. So if DS develops a cough, he's usually put on an abx. IMO, I'd tend to trust my CF doctor. Especially since they most likely cultured the stuff from the broncoscopy to determine what it was and which drugs the bug would respond too.

I'm sure your friend means well, but people wcf have different needs than healthy children...

 

[Ratatosk]

Our doctor too prefers no cough. So if DS develops a cough, he's usually put on an abx. IMO, I'd tend to trust my CF doctor. Especially since they most likely cultured the stuff from the broncoscopy to determine what it was and which drugs the bug would respond too.

I'm sure your friend means well, but people wcf have different needs than healthy children...

 

[Ratatosk]

Our doctor too prefers no cough. So if DS develops a cough, he's usually put on an abx. IMO, I'd tend to trust my CF doctor. Especially since they most likely cultured the stuff from the broncoscopy to determine what it was and which drugs the bug would respond too.

I'm sure your friend means well, but people wcf have different needs than healthy children...

 

[Ratatosk]

Our doctor too prefers no cough. So if DS develops a cough, he's usually put on an abx. IMO, I'd tend to trust my CF doctor. Especially since they most likely cultured the stuff from the broncoscopy to determine what it was and which drugs the bug would respond too.
<br />
<br />I'm sure your friend means well, but people wcf have different needs than healthy children...

 

[hmw]

There <i>is</i> a big problem with the overuse of antibiotics: i.e. when parents rush to the ped wanting their kid on an abx on day 2 of a cold, and too many peds comply with this. This leads to a lot of problems, both with these individual kids and on a large scale, with resistance, and then the meds don't work when you really need them to.

But as Amanda & Liza said, there is an enormous difference between kids with and kids without CF. CF lungs are different than healthy lungs and provide an environment much more likely for infections to develop, and a kid with CF is also at risk for much more serious complications than a typical healthy child would be if an infection goes untreated.

From our personal experience, we put Emily through a lot of unnecessary illness before her dx at age 7... I don't like to use abx unless absolutely necessary and neither does the kids' ped; so we'd always wait until it was clear that cold/virus symptoms had a chance to fade before assuming it was a secondary infection. This always worked just fine for my boys but completely backfired for Emily. By the time the ped. was willing to rx anything for her she would be so sick she'd need several courses of something to get better, she'd lose 5 pounds, take weeks to recover.

We had no idea that her needs were completely different until she was appropriately dx'ed. Now we treat her illnesses more aggressively by increasing her vest & inhaled meds at the first sign of illness and if things don't improve after several days, considering a course of abx. This has dramatically improved her recovery time when ill.

All that said, there are other causes of coughing to be considered in addition to infection: inflammation and allergies, which can also be treated that might improve his symptoms w/o use of abx. I'd ask about that as well.

 

[hmw]

There <i>is</i> a big problem with the overuse of antibiotics: i.e. when parents rush to the ped wanting their kid on an abx on day 2 of a cold, and too many peds comply with this. This leads to a lot of problems, both with these individual kids and on a large scale, with resistance, and then the meds don't work when you really need them to.

But as Amanda & Liza said, there is an enormous difference between kids with and kids without CF. CF lungs are different than healthy lungs and provide an environment much more likely for infections to develop, and a kid with CF is also at risk for much more serious complications than a typical healthy child would be if an infection goes untreated.

From our personal experience, we put Emily through a lot of unnecessary illness before her dx at age 7... I don't like to use abx unless absolutely necessary and neither does the kids' ped; so we'd always wait until it was clear that cold/virus symptoms had a chance to fade before assuming it was a secondary infection. This always worked just fine for my boys but completely backfired for Emily. By the time the ped. was willing to rx anything for her she would be so sick she'd need several courses of something to get better, she'd lose 5 pounds, take weeks to recover.

We had no idea that her needs were completely different until she was appropriately dx'ed. Now we treat her illnesses more aggressively by increasing her vest & inhaled meds at the first sign of illness and if things don't improve after several days, considering a course of abx. This has dramatically improved her recovery time when ill.

All that said, there are other causes of coughing to be considered in addition to infection: inflammation and allergies, which can also be treated that might improve his symptoms w/o use of abx. I'd ask about that as well.

 

[hmw]

There <i>is</i> a big problem with the overuse of antibiotics: i.e. when parents rush to the ped wanting their kid on an abx on day 2 of a cold, and too many peds comply with this. This leads to a lot of problems, both with these individual kids and on a large scale, with resistance, and then the meds don't work when you really need them to.

But as Amanda & Liza said, there is an enormous difference between kids with and kids without CF. CF lungs are different than healthy lungs and provide an environment much more likely for infections to develop, and a kid with CF is also at risk for much more serious complications than a typical healthy child would be if an infection goes untreated.

From our personal experience, we put Emily through a lot of unnecessary illness before her dx at age 7... I don't like to use abx unless absolutely necessary and neither does the kids' ped; so we'd always wait until it was clear that cold/virus symptoms had a chance to fade before assuming it was a secondary infection. This always worked just fine for my boys but completely backfired for Emily. By the time the ped. was willing to rx anything for her she would be so sick she'd need several courses of something to get better, she'd lose 5 pounds, take weeks to recover.

We had no idea that her needs were completely different until she was appropriately dx'ed. Now we treat her illnesses more aggressively by increasing her vest & inhaled meds at the first sign of illness and if things don't improve after several days, considering a course of abx. This has dramatically improved her recovery time when ill.

All that said, there are other causes of coughing to be considered in addition to infection: inflammation and allergies, which can also be treated that might improve his symptoms w/o use of abx. I'd ask about that as well.

 

[hmw]

There <i>is</i> a big problem with the overuse of antibiotics: i.e. when parents rush to the ped wanting their kid on an abx on day 2 of a cold, and too many peds comply with this. This leads to a lot of problems, both with these individual kids and on a large scale, with resistance, and then the meds don't work when you really need them to.

But as Amanda & Liza said, there is an enormous difference between kids with and kids without CF. CF lungs are different than healthy lungs and provide an environment much more likely for infections to develop, and a kid with CF is also at risk for much more serious complications than a typical healthy child would be if an infection goes untreated.

From our personal experience, we put Emily through a lot of unnecessary illness before her dx at age 7... I don't like to use abx unless absolutely necessary and neither does the kids' ped; so we'd always wait until it was clear that cold/virus symptoms had a chance to fade before assuming it was a secondary infection. This always worked just fine for my boys but completely backfired for Emily. By the time the ped. was willing to rx anything for her she would be so sick she'd need several courses of something to get better, she'd lose 5 pounds, take weeks to recover.

We had no idea that her needs were completely different until she was appropriately dx'ed. Now we treat her illnesses more aggressively by increasing her vest & inhaled meds at the first sign of illness and if things don't improve after several days, considering a course of abx. This has dramatically improved her recovery time when ill.

All that said, there are other causes of coughing to be considered in addition to infection: inflammation and allergies, which can also be treated that might improve his symptoms w/o use of abx. I'd ask about that as well.

 

[hmw]

There <i>is</i> a big problem with the overuse of antibiotics: i.e. when parents rush to the ped wanting their kid on an abx on day 2 of a cold, and too many peds comply with this. This leads to a lot of problems, both with these individual kids and on a large scale, with resistance, and then the meds don't work when you really need them to.
<br />
<br />But as Amanda & Liza said, there is an enormous difference between kids with and kids without CF. CF lungs are different than healthy lungs and provide an environment much more likely for infections to develop, and a kid with CF is also at risk for much more serious complications than a typical healthy child would be if an infection goes untreated.
<br />
<br />From our personal experience, we put Emily through a lot of unnecessary illness before her dx at age 7... I don't like to use abx unless absolutely necessary and neither does the kids' ped; so we'd always wait until it was clear that cold/virus symptoms had a chance to fade before assuming it was a secondary infection. This always worked just fine for my boys but completely backfired for Emily. By the time the ped. was willing to rx anything for her she would be so sick she'd need several courses of something to get better, she'd lose 5 pounds, take weeks to recover.
<br />
<br />We had no idea that her needs were completely different until she was appropriately dx'ed. Now we treat her illnesses more aggressively by increasing her vest & inhaled meds at the first sign of illness and if things don't improve after several days, considering a course of abx. This has dramatically improved her recovery time when ill.
<br />
<br />All that said, there are other causes of coughing to be considered in addition to infection: inflammation and allergies, which can also be treated that might improve his symptoms w/o use of abx. I'd ask about that as well.