Children with minor illnesses should not overuse antibiotics.

Infants and young children often have colds, fevers, runny noses, sore throats, etc., so many families use antibiotics for their children without a doctor's prescription. This can have many consequences for the child's health.

Doctor CKII Van Toan Nghia - Children's Clinic 315 Dien Bien Phu branch - Hanoi shares scientific information and guides methods to improve children's health.

Do not abuse antibiotics for children

The term "common cold" is widely used to describe the condition of young children who frequently suffer from illnesses such as coughs, fevers, and runny noses. From a medical perspective, this phenomenon is defined as a pattern of acute, recurrent, and usually self-limiting infections. These illnesses are mainly viral infections of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract, and are a typical feature of early childhood. Instead of viewing "common cold" as a single pathological condition, modern medicine considers it a clinical manifestation of the development and maturation of the immune system in the early years of a child's life.

Children's Hospital 315 Branch No. 11 Dien Bien Phu, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi City

The root cause of "minor illnesses" lies in the immaturity of the pediatric immune system, a stage that scientists call the "immune gap". At birth, the immune system of newborns is not yet complete and is very sensitive to agents from the external environment. In the early stages, children are protected by a passive immune mechanism. This is a valuable amount of antibodies passed from mother to child, mainly through breast milk. These antibodies act as a temporary shield, helping the child's immature body fight many pathogens. However, this protection does not last forever. As the child grows up, the amount of antibodies from the mother will gradually decrease. At the same time, the child's active immune system will begin the process of "learning" and producing antibodies to fight pathogens. This important transitional stage, when passive immunity from the mother has decreased but the child's active immunity is not strong enough, is the "immune gap". During this period, babies are particularly vulnerable to a myriad of potential pathogens in the environment, from viruses, bacteria to allergens, leading to recurring infections such as colds, sore throats, and digestive disorders. Babies who were born prematurely, were not exclusively breastfed for at least the first 6 months, or have underlying medical conditions are often at higher risk during this period.

Understanding these factors allows us to recognize a vicious cycle, a negative feedback mechanism that maintains and exacerbates the condition of “small illnesses” in children. This process occurs in a chain of closely linked events. First, an infection occurs due to the existence of an “immune gap”. When sick, children often feel tired and have a poor appetite, leading to inadequate nutritional intake. This micronutrient deficiency weakens the immune system’s ability to recover, making it difficult for it to fight off subsequent pathogens.

In an effort to help their children recover quickly, some parents may overuse antibiotics, especially in cases of viral infections where antibiotics are ineffective. Antibiotics, although effective weapons against bacteria, do not distinguish between harmful and beneficial bacteria. Improper use of antibiotics will destroy the healthy intestinal microbiome. This beneficial bacteria plays a key role in stimulating and regulating immune responses in the intestine. When this microbiome is disrupted, the body's immune ability in the GALT center (where 70% of immune cells are located) will be significantly reduced.

Doctor CKII Van Toan Nghia - Children's Clinic 315 Dien Bien Phu branch - Hanoi concluded: "After each illness and inappropriate treatment, the child's immune system not only does not get stronger but also becomes weaker, more vulnerable to new pathogens. This creates a vicious cycle that increases the risk of new infections. This way of thinking turns "minor illnesses" from a series of random events into a systemic problem, requiring a comprehensive and scientific intervention strategy."

315 Children's Healthcare System is a pioneer brand in children's healthcare in Vietnam, with a sustainable development orientation, high expertise and friendly service.

Help children increase endogenous resistance

Doctor CKII Van Toan Nghia instructed: "A balanced and varied diet is the foundation for a healthy immune system. It not only provides energy for daily activities but also provides specialized micronutrients necessary for the production, function and regulation of immune cells. It is necessary to avoid common mistakes such as preparing meals mainly based on sensory without paying attention to nutritional balance, leading to excess of one nutrient but lack of another. Moreover, the method of food preparation is also very important; overcooking can destroy essential vitamins and minerals, reducing the nutritional value of the meal".

315 Healthcare System is a private healthcare model with a large ecosystem, covering Ho Chi Minh City and provinces across the country. Up to now, 315 Healthcare System has had 6 chains of specialized clinics: Pediatrics 315, Pediatric Vaccination 315, Obstetrics 315, Eye 315, Cardiology - Diabetes 315 and Pediatric Psychiatry - Psychology with more than 170 clinics, expected to increase to 250 clinics and branches nationwide. In the strategic vision to 2030, 315 Healthcare System will operate more international standard hospitals with specialties in Pediatrics, Obstetrics, General Medicine and Oncology along with more than 300 clinics and 3 specialized universities.

315 Children's Healthcare System is a pioneer brand in children's healthcare in Vietnam, with a sustainable development orientation, high expertise and friendly service and is affirming its leading position in pediatric healthcare. The system focuses on comprehensive care from medical examination and treatment, prevention to physical and mental improvement for children including: Specialized examination (respiratory, digestive, dermatological, neonatal...); Safe vaccination, full vaccination; Nutritional consultation, physical and mental development; Application of modern medical technology, shortening waiting time and optimal health record management.

In Hanoi, Children's Hospital 315 has 3 branches:

- No. 11 Dien Bien Phu, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi City

- No. 349 Nguyen Van Cu, Bo De Ward, Hanoi City

- No. 112 Vu Pham Ham, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi City

315 Health System:

Hotline: 0901.315.315

315 Children's Health System

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/tre-om-vat-khong-nen-lam-dung-thuoc-khang-sinh-169251105121249723.htm