Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 I realize this is off topic and I hope it doesn't bother anyone. This is my number one parenting resource. My 5 year old son was diagnosed with scarlet fever which sometimes develops after strep throat. I waited 4 days before going to the doctor doing my own home medicine which mostly involves patience, rest, etc though in this case included grapefruitseed extract, echinacea, and homeopathic meds. When there was little to no improvement I visited the doc and was given a prescription for antibiotics. Now, my son has never yet had conventional meds or antibiotics in spite of being diagnosed with 'possible' asthma, numerous ear infections from 3 months to 2 years, conjunctivitus (twice), chicken pox (not formally diagnosed), etc. However, with the risk of rheumatic fever and complications and,to be honest, as my energy was waning because I too developed strep throat, I took the prescription. I thought about it for a day before having it filled but could not come up with another alternative. I have 2 questions. First, what is in the amoxycillin (sp?) to make it that nuclear yellow colour? In future, which I hope there never is, could I simply ask for him to have penecillin pills as I was given? He hates bananas anyway so the amoxy isn't a huge hit. What is the safest antibiotic for kids? And adults too for that matter. Secondly, how do the rest of you deal with these situations? My friend has a 3 year old who only has one antibiotic option left to him now because his body is resistent to all the others. So scary to me. In case we ever really need it I want to have lots of options. But I believe the only way to ensure this is to use meds as infrequently as possible. Oh, let me throw in a third. What do you do after antibiotics. I think I remember hearing that probiotics for a month after are necessary. Anything else? Thanks in advance. I look forward to the input as I hope to be better prepared next time. :)Madeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 My five-year-old son is seldom sick, but antibiotics have been prescribed for him several times over the course of his life. I've always given him the medicine without worrying about it. If he had chronic problems such as ear infections I would look for alternative therapies. But for infrequent infections, I'd much prefer to ease his discomfort and get him back on his feet quickly by giving him the amoxycillin (which if I recall correctly has always been pink). Terry I realize this is off topic and I hope it doesn't bother anyone. This is my number one parenting resource. My 5 year old son was diagnosed with scarlet fever which sometimes develops after strep throat. I waited 4 days before going to the doctor doing my own home medicine which mostly involves patience, rest, etc though in this case included grapefruitseed extract, echinacea, and homeopathic meds. When there was little to no improvement I visited the doc and was given a prescription for antibiotics. Now, my son has never yet had conventional meds or antibiotics in spite of being diagnosed with 'possible' asthma, numerous ear infections from 3 months to 2 years, conjunctivitus (twice), chicken pox (not formally diagnosed), etc. However, with the risk of rheumatic fever and complications and,to be honest, as my energy was waning because I too developed strep throat, I took the prescription. I thought about it for a day before having it filled but could not come up with another alternative. I have 2 questions. First, what is in the amoxycillin (sp?) to make it that nuclear yellow colour? In future, which I hope there never is, could I simply ask for him to have penecillin pills as I was given? He hates bananas anyway so the amoxy isn't a huge hit. What is the safest antibiotic for kids? And adults too for that matter. Secondly, how do the rest of you deal with these situations? My friend has a 3 year old who only has one antibiotic option left to him now because his body is resistent to all the others. So scary to me. In case we ever really need it I want to have lots of options. But I believe the only way to ensure this is to use meds as infrequently as possible. Oh, let me throw in a third. What do you do after antibiotics. I think I remember hearing that probiotics for a month after are necessary. Anything else? Thanks in advance. I look forward to the input as I hope to be better prepared next time. :)Madeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 I feel for you. I went through something similar when my perfectly healthy 4 year old son received strong steroids in the emergency room for what the doctors called a first time " asthma attack. " (They believed that a watermelon seed had entered his lungs. He had put the watermelon seed up his nose a few months earlier and we never saw it again! The only way they could determine if the seed is in his lungs is by doing a " scope " - the risk of this procedure is death. An xray would not reveal a seed because organic matter doesn't show up on xrays! So we have just left this situation in the hands of God!) My son never received any conventional medicine prior to this episode, not even Tylenol. To make a long story short, after he was released from the hospital, I continued to give him the steroids (alburterol - sp?) through an inhaler for at least 2 weeks. At first I would give him the steroids every 4 hours and then every 3 hours and then every 2 and then every hour because he seemed to develop a dependence on them. He ended up in the emergency room again, only to be given more steroids. God led me to read the hospital instructional sheet and I discovered that shortness of breath and wheezing, the very things I was trying to eliminate using the steriods, were side effects from using the steroids!!!!!!!! I contacted a wellness center in Alabama called Uchee Pines that specializes in natural remedies and to make another long story short, after talking to a doctor there, I took my child off of the steroids immediately and used the natural remedies prescribed and my son did much better and has not had another " attack " for 3 months. Your questions are good ones because we all may have to face what you faced. Unfortunately, I have no answers to them. It wasn't clear how you treated the strep throat before it developed into scarlet fever. I have a book called Natural Remedies Encyclopedia by Vance Ferrell, etc., 2004 edition. Following are just SOME things (I left out a lot of details) it suggested fo r treating strep throat: cold applications to the throat hot saltwater gargles gargle with goldenseal tea, 3-4 times a day heat compresses to the throat hot footbaths (this helped my son during asthma attacks) drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices, green drinks and lots of water avoid sugary, processed, and junk foods a cleansing juice fast, alternated with vegetable broths for 3 days high intake of vitamin c dissolve charcoal tablet in mouth catnip tea enemas are good for fevers garlic avoid people who smoke Just out of curiosity, which of these things did you try before going to the doctor? Also, the book basically says you did the right thing in contacting the physician when he developed scarlet fever. - " Madeline White " <madeline_killian Sunday, April 03, 2005 8:48 PM antibiotics > > > I realize this is off topic and I hope it doesn't bother anyone. This is my > number one parenting resource. > > My 5 year old son was diagnosed with scarlet fever which sometimes develops > after strep throat. I waited 4 days before going to the doctor doing my own > home medicine which mostly involves patience, rest, etc though in this case > included grapefruitseed extract, echinacea, and homeopathic meds. When there > was little to no improvement I visited the doc and was given a prescription > for antibiotics. Now, my son has never yet had conventional meds or > antibiotics in spite of being diagnosed with 'possible' asthma, numerous ear > infections from 3 months to 2 years, conjunctivitus (twice), chicken pox > (not formally diagnosed), etc. However, with the risk of rheumatic fever and > complications and,to be honest, as my energy was waning because I too > developed strep throat, I took the prescription. I thought about it for a > day before having it filled but could not come up with another alternative. > > I have 2 questions. First, what is in the amoxycillin (sp?) to make it that > nuclear yellow colour? In future, which I hope there never is, could I > simply ask for him to have penecillin pills as I was given? He hates bananas > anyway so the amoxy isn't a huge hit. What is the safest antibiotic for > kids? And adults too for that matter. Secondly, how do the rest of you deal > with these situations? My friend has a 3 year old who only has one > antibiotic option left to him now because his body is resistent to all the > others. So scary to me. In case we ever really need it I want to have lots > of options. But I believe the only way to ensure this is to use meds as > infrequently as possible. Oh, let me throw in a third. What do you do after > antibiotics. I think I remember hearing that probiotics for a month after > are necessary. Anything else? > > Thanks in advance. I look forward to the input as I hope to be better > prepared next time. > > :)Madeline > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. > > edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Hi Madeline, The amoxicillin that my kids have taken in the past has always been pink and bubble gum flavored. I have never seen yellow, banana flavored amoxil. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just that I have never seen it. When I suspect strep throat, I always take my kids to the doc and if confirmed always give the antibiotics due to the risk of rheumatic fever - as you said. There is another antibiotic that our pediatrician sometimes gives that is a mild yellow flavor but I think it's a lemon flavor. I can't remember the name of it right now. If I understand correctly (which is many times a long shot!), amoxil/amoxicillin is a form of penicillin. God's Peace, Gayle - " Madeline White " <madeline_killian Sunday, April 03, 2005 8:48 PM antibiotics > > > I realize this is off topic and I hope it doesn't bother anyone. This is > my > number one parenting resource. > > My 5 year old son was diagnosed with scarlet fever which sometimes > develops > after strep throat. I waited 4 days before going to the doctor doing my > own > home medicine which mostly involves patience, rest, etc though in this > case > included grapefruitseed extract, echinacea, and homeopathic meds. When > there > was little to no improvement I visited the doc and was given a > prescription > for antibiotics. Now, my son has never yet had conventional meds or > antibiotics in spite of being diagnosed with 'possible' asthma, numerous > ear > infections from 3 months to 2 years, conjunctivitus (twice), chicken pox > (not formally diagnosed), etc. However, with the risk of rheumatic fever > and > complications and,to be honest, as my energy was waning because I too > developed strep throat, I took the prescription. I thought about it for a > day before having it filled but could not come up with another > alternative. > > I have 2 questions. First, what is in the amoxycillin (sp?) to make it > that > nuclear yellow colour? In future, which I hope there never is, could I > simply ask for him to have penecillin pills as I was given? He hates > bananas > anyway so the amoxy isn't a huge hit. What is the safest antibiotic for > kids? And adults too for that matter. Secondly, how do the rest of you > deal > with these situations? My friend has a 3 year old who only has one > antibiotic option left to him now because his body is resistent to all the > others. So scary to me. In case we ever really need it I want to have lots > of options. But I believe the only way to ensure this is to use meds as > infrequently as possible. Oh, let me throw in a third. What do you do > after > antibiotics. I think I remember hearing that probiotics for a month after > are necessary. Anything else? > > Thanks in advance. I look forward to the input as I hope to be better > prepared next time. > > :)Madeline > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at > http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to > http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to > provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a > qualified health professional. > > edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health > professional. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 On Mon, 4 Apr 2005, Madeline White wrote: > My 5 year old son was diagnosed with scarlet fever which sometimes develops > after strep throat. I waited 4 days before going to the doctor doing my own > home medicine which mostly involves patience, rest, etc though in this case > included grapefruitseed extract, echinacea, and homeopathic meds. When there > was little to no improvement I visited the doc and was given a prescription > for antibiotics. Now, my son has never yet had conventional meds or > antibiotics in spite of being diagnosed with 'possible' asthma, numerous ear > infections from 3 months to 2 years, conjunctivitus (twice), chicken pox > (not formally diagnosed), etc. However, with the risk of rheumatic fever and > complications and,to be honest, as my energy was waning because I too > developed strep throat, I took the prescription. I thought about it for a > day before having it filled but could not come up with another alternative. My son also had scarlet fever. He was 2 at the time. I also usually avoid antibiotics, but scarlet fever is one case where I was very, very glad to have them. My mother had scarlet fever as a child and still has residual damage from it now, in her 60s. Scarlet fever can kill, or blind, or deafen, or do any number of other permanent, life-altering things to a child. Using the anti-biotics was the right call. In fact, one of the reasons I decline antibiotics in ordinary circumstances is to minimize the risk of drug resistance that can render them ineffective when they are really needed for truly serious illnesses, like this. > I have 2 questions. First, what is in the amoxycillin (sp?) to make it that > nuclear yellow colour? In future, which I hope there never is, could I > simply ask for him to have penecillin pills as I was given? He hates bananas > anyway so the amoxy isn't a huge hit. What is the safest antibiotic for > kids? And adults too for that matter. Amoxicillin is one of the safest antibiotics. It is a penicillin variant. I have no idea why it was yellow. Straight penicillin is no longer the first drug of choice in most cases because so many bugs are resistant to it at this point. But if your son ever needs antibiotics again, you can certainly tell the doctor that it's hard to get him to take the amoxycillin and you would prefer something else. There are lots of antibiotics on the market to choose from. > Secondly, how do the rest of you deal > with these situations? My friend has a 3 year old who only has one > antibiotic option left to him now because his body is resistent to all the > others. So scary to me. In case we ever really need it I want to have lots > of options. But I believe the only way to ensure this is to use meds as > infrequently as possible. I decline antibiotics for my kids unless the illness is really serious, or if they are seriously suffering and my resolve breaks, which has happened a couple of times with extreme ear infections that pain-killers alone could not handle. Actually, usually I just take the prescription and never fill it -- it's easier than arguing, and it gives me the option of filling it quickly if I change me mind, which I rarely do. > Oh, let me throw in a third. What do you do after > antibiotics. I think I remember hearing that probiotics for a month after > are necessary. Anything else? I just make sure to feed my kids soy yogurt with active cultures during and for a few days after the antibiotics. That seems to be enough to keep down any diarrhea resulting from the antibiotics wiping out beneficial bacteria in the gut, and my kids practically live on the stuff anyway so it's easy enough to do. I tried to give my son probiotics from a bottle once but he hated it so I gave up on that avenue. ---- Patricia Bullington-McGuire <patricia The brilliant Cerebron, attacking the problem analytically, discovered three distinct kinds of dragon: the mythical, the chimerical, and the purely hypothetical. They were all, one might say, nonexistent, but each nonexisted in an entirely different way ... -- Stanislaw Lem, " Cyberiad " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 It also comes in banana flavour and that is yellow. I know this because we had to make sure it wasn't red because my 10yo son is allergic to red dye. Jacqueline http://adhdnme.blogspot.com Terry Somerson [terry] April 4, 2005 10:07 AM Re: antibiotics My five-year-old son is seldom sick, but antibiotics have been prescribed for him several times over the course of his life. I've always given him the medicine without worrying about it. If he had chronic problems such as ear infections I would look for alternative therapies. But for infrequent infections, I'd much prefer to ease his discomfort and get him back on his feet quickly by giving him the amoxycillin (which if I recall correctly has always been pink). Terry I realize this is off topic and I hope it doesn't bother anyone. This is my number one parenting resource. My 5 year old son was diagnosed with scarlet fever which sometimes develops after strep throat. I waited 4 days before going to the doctor doing my own home medicine which mostly involves patience, rest, etc though in this case included grapefruitseed extract, echinacea, and homeopathic meds. When there was little to no improvement I visited the doc and was given a prescription for antibiotics. Now, my son has never yet had conventional meds or antibiotics in spite of being diagnosed with 'possible' asthma, numerous ear infections from 3 months to 2 years, conjunctivitus (twice), chicken pox (not formally diagnosed), etc. However, with the risk of rheumatic fever and complications and,to be honest, as my energy was waning because I too developed strep throat, I took the prescription. I thought about it for a day before having it filled but could not come up with another alternative. I have 2 questions. First, what is in the amoxycillin (sp?) to make it that nuclear yellow colour? In future, which I hope there never is, could I simply ask for him to have penecillin pills as I was given? He hates bananas anyway so the amoxy isn't a huge hit. What is the safest antibiotic for kids? And adults too for that matter. Secondly, how do the rest of you deal with these situations? My friend has a 3 year old who only has one antibiotic option left to him now because his body is resistent to all the others. So scary to me. In case we ever really need it I want to have lots of options. But I believe the only way to ensure this is to use meds as infrequently as possible. Oh, let me throw in a third. What do you do after antibiotics. I think I remember hearing that probiotics for a month after are necessary. Anything else? Thanks in advance. I look forward to the input as I hope to be better prepared next time. :)Madeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Thanks for the reply. It seems that, as parents, we will most likely experience medical 'situations' in our lives that require more than we may feel comfortab;le with. >hot footbaths (this helped my son during asthma attacks) >drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices, green drinks and lots of water >avoid sugary, processed, and junk foods >high intake of vitamin c >garlic >avoid people who smoke Above are the remedies you mentined that I did try. We also did grapefruitseed extract diluted in water twice a day and zinc losenges and tea tree oil as a sponge bath. I wasn't worried about the fever, I wanted to let it do its work, I was more worried about getting rid of the infection. :)Madeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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