About the side effects of antibiotics on a breastfed baby
Antibiotics, though a boon of modern medicine, can also prove to be a double-edged sword. Recent studies have questioned whether they cause more harm than good. Seeing your child recover after an infection can build trust in antibiotics, and you may be tempted to reuse the antibiotic as soon as your child gets sick. But be careful. All that glitters is not gold. Resistance and side effects of antibiotics are becoming increasingly common these days. Here’s what you need to know before giving antibiotics to your little one.
Side Effects of antibiotics on babies
1. Common baby antibiotic side effects are as follows:
2. Your baby may also show allergic reactions to certain antibiotics such as penicillin or sulfa drugs. He may develop an itchy rash, hives, or shortness of breath as soon as the medicine is given or in some cases after a few days.
3. Not all bacteria are harmful to your baby. Some of the bacteria present in the intestine are extremely useful for digestion and keep your child’s intestine healthy. Antibiotics destroy the healthy bacteria along with the harmful ones, which in turn enables the growth of fungal infections.
4. As useful bacteria are destroyed by antibiotics, the development of a yeast infection may lead to nappy rash.
5. Antibiotic resistance is by far the worst side effect and is becoming a major health concern globally. When antibiotics are given incorrectly or misused, pathogens become resistant rendering them ineffective.
How to determine the antibiotic dosage to minimize the child’s side effects from antibiotics?
Babies up to 6 months vary greatly in size; Therefore the dose of antibiotic is calculated based on the weight of the child. Make sure the medicine is given as per the strict instructions prescribed by the doctor or on the label.
Is it safe to take antibiotics while breastfeeding?
During breastfeeding, medications can pass to the baby through breast milk, which has the potential to produce harmful side effects. Always consult your doctor to know which antibiotics are safe to take while breastfeeding.
Are there any antibiotics that are safe during breastfeeding?
Here is a list of medicines that are proven to be safe for the mother and baby during breastfeeding. However, always remember to consult your doctor before taking any medicines.
| antibacterial: | Safe
Effect unknown; Caution Of with intake do |
vulnerable |
| aminoglycosides | chloramphenicol | metronidazole (Solo High diet) |
| amoxicillin | quinolones | |
| amoxicillin–clavulanate | antitubercular Drugs | |
| mandelic acid | Cephalosporin | |
| metronidazole (Less diet) | Nalidiclik acid | |
| trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | nitrofurantoin | |
| tetracyclines | ||
| penicillin |
Anti-Virus:
| Safe | Effect unknown; Caution Of with intake do |
| acyclovir | antiretrovirals |
| invitation day | famciclovir |
| valacyclovir | fakernet |
| Ganciclovir |
Antifungal:
Safe medicines: Ketoconazole
Medicines whose effects are unknown, take with caution:
amphotericin
fluconazole
flucytosine
itraconazole
Antimalarial:
Safe medicines:
chloroquine
quinine medicine
Hydroxychloroquine
Medicines whose effects are unknown, take with caution:
Mefloquine
Pentamidine
Proguanil
primaquine
pyrimethamine
Deworming:
Effects are unknown, take these medicines with caution-
Mebendazole
Parenteral Pamot
praziquantel
quinacrine anthelmintic
thiabendazole
Pepperzines