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Is Clarithromycin For Chest Infection OK For Babies? Taken Amoxicillin For Bronchitis.
Question: Our 9 month old baby has been prescribed a 5 day course of Clarithromycin (2 x 5ml doses a day) for a chest infection. Having read all the side effects with it on Wikipedia and in some cases that it can cause death is it OK for babies? Ours was born 2 months early so is small for his age at 16lb 10oz. A few months ago he had brochitis and was given Amoxilciilin, 2 weeks later he had it again and was given more Amoxicillin and then a few weeks later Amoxicillin for a third time. His last lot was 5 weeks ago.
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Your baby is most likely having a resistant chest infection which was not cured with first line antibiotics given thrice.
Claritromycin is helpful in removing the resistant infections with a good efficacy. Every drug has got some side effects. Neonatal death is one of the rarest complications and are not usually encountered.
Your pediatrician must have decided that the benefits outweigh the risks in your baby's circumstances and after a careful assessment would have prescribed this drug.
You need not worry and should go ahead with the treatment as advised by your pediatrician.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Thanks for posting your query.
Your baby is most likely having a resistant chest infection which was not cured with first line antibiotics given thrice.
Claritromycin is helpful in removing the resistant infections with a good efficacy. Every drug has got some side effects. Neonatal death is one of the rarest complications and are not usually encountered.
Your pediatrician must have decided that the benefits outweigh the risks in your baby's circumstances and after a careful assessment would have prescribed this drug.
You need not worry and should go ahead with the treatment as advised by your pediatrician.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thankyou, that does put our minds to rest. Our only concern now is ensuring he has the full dosage. 5ml seems a lot to get into him as he wont open his mouth and when we do get the syringe in, a certain amount ends up all down his chin as he refuses to swallow it. It causes him (and my wife) a lot of distress. Should we give him extra to try and make up a full dose or just let him swallow the amount he does?
Thank you
Thank you
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
It is actually very difficult at times to give a full dosage to young children.
You need to give him the extra dosage to make up for the drug that flows down his chin.
Hope my answer is helpful. Further queries are welcome.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing your son a trouble free speedy recovery.
Thanks for writing again.
It is actually very difficult at times to give a full dosage to young children.
You need to give him the extra dosage to make up for the drug that flows down his chin.
Hope my answer is helpful. Further queries are welcome.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing your son a trouble free speedy recovery.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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