Health Tip: Use Antibiotics Wisely

(HealthDay News) — Your child must take an antibiotic according to a doctor’s prescription or label instructions, to make sure the medicine works properly and doesn’t foster drug-resistant bacteria.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips for parents:

  • Make sure your child takes the entire course of medication exactly as prescribed.
  • Give your child an antibiotic prescribed just for him or her; never share an antibiotic prescribed for someone else.
  • Schedule any follow-up appointment recommended by your pediatrician after the antibiotic is finished — for example, an ear exam after an ear infection.
  • Be sure to call the pediatrician if your child has finished an antibiotic and still isn’t feeling well.