Parents receive antibiotic reminder

AS CHILDREN and young adults return to school this morning, exposing themselves to numerous winter bugs and infections, the Health Service Executive has reminded parents that antibiotics are useless in treating common colds and flu-like illnesses.

Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, consultant microbiologist and HSE clinical lead for the prevention of healthcare-associated infection, said using antibiotics when not useful could result in their not working when they were really needed. She said they are of no use in the treatment of colds and flu.

Dr Nuala O’Connor, a general practitioner, advised parents to treat the symptoms of the cold or flu-like illness and to give the child’s body time to recover.

“The best way to treat most colds, coughs or sore throats is to drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. You can give paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve headache, aches and pains and fever.

“Your local pharmacist can give advice about over-the-counter remedies. If your children are taking medicines for other conditions you must check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking other over-the-counter remedies.

“The length of time you can expect most common infections to last is about four days for an ear infection, a week for a sore throat, about 10 days for a common cold with runny nose, about 18 days for a sinus infection and about three weeks for a cough which often happens after a common cold.”