03/07/2026
DID YOU KNOW THAT WHILE ANTIBIOTICS ARE GREAT, WE USE THEM WAY TOO MUCH?
DID YOU KNOW THAT SOON, THEY WILL NOT WORK AS WELL? (FOR REAL, IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. A LOT.)
This is called developing "resistance".
And all medical people are encouraged to really think hard before every prescription for antibiotics we write, because it's all of our responsibility to prevent this.
Remember:
Virus infections: no cure, antibiotics don't work, clears on its own
Bacterial infections: antibiotics work and need meds to get better
1. Did you know that most kids' "pink eye" is NOT bacterial? That 70-80% is actually caused by viruses and there is no cure for it, it just has to get better on its own?
..Makes you wonder about return-to-school and daycare policies for pink eye that require antibiotic drops, which are doing nothing for it most of the time. I encourage school systems to think on this...
*A good way to know if pink eye is viral is if it seems to come along with other new symptoms like a runny nose, fever, or cough.
2. Kids 2 years and older don't need that long 10-day course of antibiotics for their ear infections. Most clear out within 5-7 days of treatment.
3. "Bronchitis" is almost always viral in kids. No antibiotics are generally needed and it resolves in 1-3 weeks with rest and supportive care.
4. Most sinus infections? You guessed it - viral.
5. 50-80% of sore throats are viral.
The most common cause of bacterial sore throat is Group A strep, or "strep throat", and it actually can clear on its own - but we recommend antibiotics to prevent more serious complications and help you feel better faster/be less contagious.
6. Viruses cause way more sudden full-body rashes in kids than bacteria do. These are called "viral exanthems" and can be very impressive.
7. SEVERAL bacterial infections are prevented by vaccines, including simple stuff like sinus, ear, throat, and lung infections.
And if you don't get your kid vaccinated for things like tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, Haemophilus, Pneumococcus, and the meningococcal meningitises, your child will be subjected to more blood work, urine caths, spinal taps, and IV antibiotics than vaccinated children in the ER and hospital.
I know I'm all over the place here, and antibiotics are important - i don't want you to think they're not. They're often life-saving! And we need to keep them that way!
And there are exceptions to all of these cases, of course. Just passing this info along to help you think through these treatment decisions with your medical provider.
Here is a picture of me and a sweet friend's child who obviously loves being near me, as all the children do.
Hugs,
❤ DA
Sources
1. Keen M, Thompson M. Treatment of Acute Conjunctivitis in the United States and Evidence of Antibiotic Overuse: Isolated Issue or a Systematic Problem? Ophthalmology. 2017 Aug;124(8):1096-1098.
2. Solano D, Fu L, Czyz CN. Viral Conjunctivitis. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470271/
3. Kim MS, Kim JH, Ryu S, Lee SW, Yon DK, Kim E, Koyanagi A, Dragioti E, Shin JI, Smith L. Comparative efficacy and optimal duration of first-line antibiotic regimens for acute otitis media in children and adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 89 randomized clinical trials. World J Pediatr. 2024 Mar;20(3):219-229. doi: 10.1007/s12519-023-00716-8. Epub 2023 Apr 5. PMID: 37016201. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37016201/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519550/
5. Brook I. Acute sinusitis in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Apr;60(2):409-24. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2012.12.002. Epub 2013 Jan 20. PMID: 23481108. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23481108/
