Washington Health System

B ac ter ia l B a la nce BENJAMIN KLEIFGEN, MD OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN CHILDREN CAN HAVE SERIOUS EFFECTS ON THEIR HEALTH. IT'S ALL ABOUT B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l B ac ter ia l IT'S ALL ABOUT B ac ter ia l EFFECTS ON THEIR HEALTH. 30% of antibiotics prescribed each year are unnecessary, according to a 2016 Pew Charitable Trust report. Each year, your child probably gets at least one cold, sore throat or virus, but these illnesses don't always warrant the use of antibiotics. "Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and have no eect on infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold or inuenza," says Benjamin Kleifgen, MD, Pediatrician with WHS Washington Pediatrics. "In fact, overusing antibiotics to treat illnesses can have negative eects on children's bodies and immune systems." A BALANCING ACT "When a doctor prescribes an antibiotic for an ear infection, for instance, the drug kills most of the bacteria causing the infection," Dr. Kleifgen says. "However, some of the bacteria have genes that allow them to survive—they are 'resistant' to the antibiotic." When this occurs, the bacteria become resistant to all but a handful of drugs, and some infections are being identied that cannot be treated with any existing antibiotic, Dr.Kleifgen notes. "Antibiotics can also cause harmful changes to the mix of bacteria that live in and on us, known as the microbiome," Dr. Kleifgen continues. "ese bacteria mostly live in harmony. However, when a child takes an antibiotic for an ear infection, the drug kills both the bad and good bacteria alike. is upsets the balance of the normal community of microbes in the gut, which commonly causes diarrhea." e good news, however, is that the body typically restores the balance aer the antibiotic is out of the body's system. THE TAKEAWAY "It's wise to take antibiotics only when needed," Dr. Kleifgen says."e vast majority of childhood coughs and colds will get better on their own no matter what. To help your little one recover more quickly, it's best for him to get lots of rest, eat nutritious foods and stay hydrated. Your doctor may recommend giving him acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce fever and alleviate minor body aches." » IF YOU NEED A PEDIATRICIAN, CALL WHS WASHINGTON PEDIATRICS AT (724) 250-6001. Dr. Kleifgen, native of Mt. Lebanon, received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency in pediatrics in Tucson, Arizona. Recently, Dr. Kleifgen joined the WHS Washington Pediatrics practice, which includes Michael Faust, MD, Tera Faust, DO, Richelle Sommerfield, MD, Marisa Quattrone, MD, and Tina Lengauer, DO. connections | W I NTE R 2017 4 whs.org

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