Are your child's Antibiotics doing more harm than good?

November 12, 2024•4 min read

Are your child's antibiotics doing more harm than good?

As a parent, nothing is more concerning than seeing your child struggle through an illness. When a fever spikes, ear pain begins, or a cough lingers, it's natural to seek want to find quick relief.

Often, antibiotics are prescribed as a solution. However, are these medications always necessary? And are there any long term health issues that can come along as an unwanted side effect?

The Surprising Truth About Antibiotic Overuse

A startling fact from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that nearly 30% of antibiotic prescriptions for children are unnecessary. That's almost one third of the time that we are giving our kids antibiotics that they don't actually need and quite often, do not even help as many of these illnesses are viral.

While these medications can be life-saving when used appropriately, unnecessary use and overprescription can lead to a cascade of health issues.

This overuse can lead to serious health consequences, including:

Disruption of the Gut Microbiome: Antibiotics can wipe out beneficial gut bacteria, leading to digestive issues, weakened immunity, and even mental health problems. The imbalance of the gut microbiome can be linked to many health issues, including inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, asthma, and even obesity.
Increased Risk of Antibiotic Resistance: Overusing antibiotics contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making infections harder to treat.
Delayed Healing: In some cases, antibiotics can hinder the body's natural healing processes.
Impact on the vagus nerve: The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation, immune function, and your child's ability to relax. The overuse of antibiotics can impact the vagal nerve tone in a negative way, potentially causing many different health issues. A disruption of vagal tone can affect anything from digestion to heart rate variability.

Common Scenarios of Unnecessary Antibiotic Use

Viral Infections: Colds, flu, and most sore throats are caused by viruses, which antibiotics cannot treat.
Ear Infections: Up to 80% ear infections resolve on their own without antibiotics. Yet still remain one of the most common reasons why antibiotics are prescribed.
Bronchitis: Most cases of bronchitis are viral and do not require antibiotics unless pneumonia is suspected.

A Natural Approach to Child Health

Instead of relying solely on antibiotics, consider these natural and effective approaches:

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic care can help improve nervous system function, boost immunity, and reduce inflammation. By addressing the root cause of health issues, chiropractic can prevent future illnesses and reduce the need for antibiotics. Chiropractic adjustments can also help improve natural drainage of the Eustachian tubes, sinuses, and lymphatic system, helping the body to clear these infections more effectively.
Support the Body's Natural Defenses: A healthy diet, adequate sleep, and stress management can strengthen your child's immune system.
Consider Natural Remedies: Probiotics, herbal supplements like echinacea, garlic, and elderberry, essential oils, and dietary changes can support immune function and aid in recovery.

The Power of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care

1-Boosting the Immune System
The nervous system and Immune System are intricately connected! Adjustments can enhance your nervous system function and in turn, boost your immune system response. When your immune system is strong and able to fight off infections on it's own, it reduces the likelihood of needing antibiotics in the first place!

2- Improving Drainage and Reducing Inflammation
Many childhood illnesses, particularly ear infections, are caused by poor drainage of the lymphatic system and Eustachian tubes. Adjustments help naturally improve this drainage, not only clearing current infections and fluid build up, but preventing it in the future.

3- Enhancing Overall Body Function
Our care as neurologically-focused chiropractors isn't just about treating symptoms. Proper alignment can help improve quality of sleep, enhance digestion, and reduce stress and tension.

4-Addressing the root cause, not just symptoms.
Our docs here at Perfect by Design look far past the symptoms your child presents when they start care. Our goal is to identify and address the root cause to provide long-term relief and prevention! Correcting these subluxations within the neurospinal system helps us do just that!

Empowering Parents: Making Informed Decisions

By understanding the potential risks of antibiotic overuse and exploring natural alternatives, parents can make informed decisions about their child's health.

1- Find a neurologically-focused and specalized chiropractor

2- Start early! Even newborn babies can find great benefits in care

3- Combine care with other natural approaches like proper nutrition and plenty of sleep!

4- Educate yourself on the benefits of neurologically-focused chiropractic care and how it can help support your child's health journey.

By choosing Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, you're not only avoiding the potential risks of antibiotics overuse, you're actively supporting your child's overall health and development. By taking this approach, you can help your child thrive, naturally, and paving the way for a healthier future for our children.