As we enter winter the NHS in South Yorkshire are sharing guidance for parents and carers on common illnesses that often start circulating at this time of year.
Illnesses like coughs, sore throats and earache are extremely common in young children, but healthcare leaders are asking parents and carers to think twice before treating them with antibiotics, as they rarely speed up recovery for these conditions, which are most often caused by viral infections.
Instead, the Superbodies campaign is sharing a guide for parents and carers on the simple things they can do to treat these common ailments at home, as well as helping them to spot the signs of a more serious illness and knowing when and where to go for medical help.
Dr David Crichton, Medical Director at NHS South Yorkshire, said:
“Many children will pick up common viruses at this time of year, especially as they are mixing in school and nursery environments, but they are usually nothing to worry about and self limiting. Their ‘super bodies’ get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up to date immunisations will fight off these common illnesses on their own.
“The evidence shows that most children recover from these illnesses in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics, which have no effect on viruses and don’t actually help to fight off the infection.”
Antibiotics are not needed for most common illnesses. They are unlikely to speed up the healing process, they can cause unwanted side effects such as diarrhoea, and your child will usually get better without taking unnecessary medication.
Overusing antibiotics can also contribute to ‘antibiotic resistance’, which means that these medications are becoming less effective at killing off bacteria. This is a very serious threat to the health of our population, but we can all help to fight back by only using antibiotics when they are needed.
Dr Crichton continued: “Parents know their children best, so please continue to seek further advice and support if you are concerned about their symptoms.”
Parents and carers of young children can find information on treating coughs, earaches and sore throats on the ‘Super Bodies’ website page, as well as finding a list of more serious signs and symptoms to look out for.
They can find out when they need to stay home, visit their GP, call NHS 111, or when to call 999 or attend A&E.
The ‘Superbodies’ campaign was developed by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) for use by NHS organisations across the country.
Visit: https://southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/superbodies to find out more.