get smart about antibiotics. antiobiotic resistance ......get smart about antibiotics week...

GETSMARTAbout Antibiotics Week

WWW.CDC.GOV/GETSMART

ANTIBIOTICS AREN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER

Many common infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics. As a parent, ask questions to make sure your sick child is getting the best care possible, which might not include an antibiotic.

The Facts:• Antibiotics can have reactions and side effects.

Harmfuleffectsfromantibiotics,suchassideeffectsandallergicreactions,cause1outof5emergencydepartmentvisitsforadversedrugeventsandleadto50,000 emergency department visits inchildreneachyear.1

• Antibiotics can be overused and misused.

Itisestimatedthatmore than half of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribedtochildrenindoctorofficesettingsforcoughandcoldillness,mostofwhicharecausedbyviruses.

• Antibiotics can only cure infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.

• Antibiotic resistance is growing.

Anestimated2 million illnesses and23,000 deaths occureachyearintheUnitedStatesduetoantibiotic-resistantinfections.2Overuseandmisuseofantibioticsaremaindriversofresistance.

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FOR PARENTS

CS260605B

Questions to Ask Your ProviderIfyourchildissick,hereare3 important questionstoaskyourhealthcareprofessional:

1. What is the best treatment for my child’s illness?

Antibioticsaren’tneededforcommonillnesseslikecolds,mostsorethroats,theflu,andevensomeearinfections.Theseillnessesareoftencausedbyviruses,whichdonotrespondtoantibiotics.Sometimesthebesttreatmentissymptomrelief.

2. Is this the right antibiotic for the type of infectionmy child has?

Ifanantibioticwillhelpyourchild,it’simportanttouseanantibioticthatisdesignedtofightthebacteriacausingyourchild’sspecificillness.Ifyourhealthcareprofessionalsaysyourchildneedsanantibiotic,askifit’stheonemost“targeted”totreattheinfectionwhilecausingtheleastsideeffects.

3. What can I do to help my child feel better?

Painrelievers,feverreducers,salinenasalsprayordrops,warmcompresses,liquids,andrestmaybethebestthingstohelpyourchildfeelbetter.Askyourhealthcareproviderorpharmacistwhatsymptomreliefisbestforyourchild.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.1600CliftonRoadN.E.,Atlanta,GA30333

Telephone:1-800-CDC-INFO(232-4636)/TTY:1-888-232-63548Email:getsmart@cdc.govWeb:www.cdc.gov/getsmart

Citations:1BourgeoisFT,etal.Pediatricadversedrugeventsintheoutpatientsetting:An11-yearnationalanalysis.Pediatrics.2009;124:e744-50.2CDC.AntibioticResistanceThreatsintheUnitedStates,2013.16September2013.