Hi Moms,
My 7 y/o son has severe eczema on the palm of his left hand. His skin is broken, cracked, and infected and has been an ongoing chronic condition for many years. I never wanted to use a lot of steroid cream b/c it thins the skin and that really scared me. So for the past several years, I spent a ton of money trying every "eczema" cream I found and none of it worked. I finally took him back to the dermatologist last week and she prescribed him antiobiotics for his infected skin, and also told me to put steriod cream on his hand and do wet wraps every day for 2 weeks, and that she wanted to see us back in 2 weeks. As a result, his hand looks amazing now! His skin is all closed up and looks almost as good as new! The infection is gone and his skin is in tact. Since the infection is gone, I am contemplating stopping his antibiotics. I would hate to keep on giving it to him if he really doesn't need it anymore. I have always heard you are supposed to finish the antibiotics even if the condition is gone, but even though I know this, I still want to stop giving it to him (because antibiotics are not good for you - although I am also giving him probiotics with it, but still). What do you all think? Do you think it would be fine to stop the antibiotics? Thank you.
Thank you all for giving me great advice to continue his antibiotics, which I will! I didn't know that the strong "bugs" aren't killed from the antibiotics until the end of the medicine. Some people asked about his antibiotic - he takes it 3 times a day for 14 days! That is a lot, but I will continue to do it. Thanks again.
Stopping antibiotics now can do more harm than good. He can end up sicker than he started. Listen to the Doctor and finish the antibiotics!
No, No, No, never stop antibiotics.
Always take the prescribed amount in full.
Just because you don't see the infection does not mean it is clear from his system.
Let the medicine finish its work in him.
I'm so glad to see you decided to continue the antibiotics. I understand not wanting to give him more drugs than is necessary but he obviously NEEDS them! I'm so glad to hear that they are working too.
Have you ever investigated the underlying cause to his eczema? He could have an underlying allergy. Maybe by fixing the problem at the root will help prevent future flare ups.
Don't stop the pills. Please – this is terribly important, and I wish doctors and pharmacists would do a better job of explaining why.
The infection may appear to be gone, but that doesn't mean that every bacterium that was causing it has died. They've so far just been reduced in number enough so they can't do major cellular invasions and create inflammation and pus.
But the strongest, most vigorous bacteria, the ones that have so far managed to survive the antibiotic, may still be living in crevices in his skin. They will come back stronger than ever if you stop the medicine early. The full course is medical science's best guess as to what it will take to clear out even the most resistant bacteria. People stopping their course of treatment early are one of the primary reasons that antibiotic-resistant germs have become a growing and dangerous problem.
So PLEASE keep up with every dose until your son has taken them all, for his own safety, and yours, and other children's. And it's not technically correct to think this medicine is "not good for you." Hard on the digestive system, yes, but for your son, a better option than the difficult eczema he's had to live with, yes?
Do not stop the antibiotics until the time is up. Stoping early can cause the germs that do survive to come back more vigorous and less suseptable to antibotics. You will have created "Supergerms" in your son's body. Very bad idea!!!
Good luck to you and yours.
No it would not be fine to stop the antibiotics.
Yes he does still need to take the entire course of antibiotics.
Just because he looks 'cured' he likely isn't. The culprit that is causing his issues needs to be COMPLETELY wiped out. Stopping the antibiotics now leaves bacterial behind, which will get stronger and more resistant to the same antibiotic if he needs it in the future. Do you want the outbreak to come back, worse, and have his symptoms worsened?
Stopping antibiotics early is what makes some of the "super bugs" so strong. I always finish them, regardless of whats being treated. If you really want to stop them, consult the dr or pharmacist.
No, don't stop antibiotics early! Just because the symptom is gone does not mean the cause is gone. There are even labels on the bottles that say NOT to stop them early unless otherwise instructed.
The Antibiotics were for her Infected skin.
Do not stop it.
You also have to think about his skin infection.... what if he gets a Staph infection? That is not good. And it can be very serious. I know, I had a staph infection as a child, per a small cut I had on my skin. For example.
You need to use the antibiotic per the instructions.
I would continue the antibotics. It isn't like he is on them long term and even though it has cleared up, it doesn't mean the whole infection is gone yet.
Do not stop antibiotics before the prescription is finished. You say "the infection is gone," but how do you know that? Just because his skin "looks" fine? Are you yourself able to culture it or do a blood test to be sure?
If you read the detailed directions you will see that it says to finish the entire prescription.
Just because his skin looks OK, that does not mean that the infection is totally gone. There's a reason that a specific amount is prescribed and that's it -- the doctor wants to ensure ALL of the infection is gone. People can look fine and feel "well" when there is still latent infection that will come back if they stop antibiotics too soon. Do what you were asked by the doctor to ensure your son really does get well and doesn't relapse.
Stopping antibiotics too soon also contributes to the development of strains of infections that are resistant to antibiotics. Ask your doctor how this works but it's true. If everyone stops antibiotics when they like instead of when they should, all of society ends up with more strains of resistant infections that are harder and harder to treat.
Finish the antibiotic. Better than chancing the infection not actually being totally gone (despite appearances) and then having to go through an entirely second round of antibiotics for no reason except that he didn't finish the first.
No, I do not think it is fine to stop giving him them.
Just finish them up!
So you've been giving him the antibiotics for llikely 5-7 days & I'm assuming the antibiotic is 10 days worth as that is an average timeline, correct? If you've started the course then you need to finish it, otherwise, as everyone else has already explained below me, you not only run the risk of the infection not being completely cleared up, but it returning with a vengeance which will require another dose of an even stronger antibiotic. Just follow the doctors orders, as you already know you should, and have him finish up the meds.
NO!!!!!!! Do not stop the antibiotic...FINISH it. My two youngest suffer from eczema and I have to say that the risk of a staph infection is so scary!!! I will say if you get a chance ask for your Doc to prescribe Mupirocin 2%
My doctor prescribes it for my sons eczema for when it is broke open, it helps it heal faster and helps prevent infection.
Dont stop now. You are supposed to take them to the end so that you can be sure that they did their job. Even if the infection appears to be gone it may not be and for you to want to stop them now for fear of giving him something that he doesnt need could only cause you to have to start the process all over again
Good Luck
You're kind of between a rock and hard place as I understand where you're coming from. I'm not antibiotic crazy either and prefer natural/homeopathic methods over pharmaceutical. One of the reasons is that the bugs learn to be resistant to pharmaceutical antibiotics and then you get superbugs which can make things worse. But there are times you have to pick your arguments and go with the pharmaceutical stuff because frankly some things are not to be messed with. With open sores on the hands, you want to make sure it definitely doesn't become infected especially w/MRSA. I also hear ya on the steroid creme. When my son was an infant he had an open sore on the side of his face, the size of a quarter. Had no idea what or why it was there, just really sensitive skin I guess??? (course later realized it was allergies). The prescription creme I used, I hated using because it would thin the skin, but it worked ok. Then what really worked was coconut oil and hydrocortisone believe it or not. Either way, fall on pharmaceutical stuff as the last resort, but need to realize that infections and other stuff like pneumonia or what not, need to be taken care of right away. Then after the meds are used at the duration required by the doc and things look better, try the homeopathic means of keeping things in check. Pharmaceutical stuff doesn't solve the source of the problem, so since you mentioned eczema (my son used to have this when he was a baby) find out if it's related to environment or the food he eats. Perhaps get him a RAST test. We did the RAST test on my son and since then, his skin has been pretty good and he's a toddler now. Course outdoor allergens affect his skin and we have to resort to oatmeal baths and oatmeal lotion during the Spring and Fall. Also have used Triderm for Psoriasis (the eczema version didn't work as well as the one for psoriasis version...believe me, I think I've tried every product out there).
What I've learned...
Coconut oil moisturizes and is antibacterial
Colloidal silver is antibacterial
Garlic is antibacterial, but very smelly, lol!
Good luck, poor guy!
Can you be more specific with the duration and dose and frequency of the antibiotics?
Dose = ?
How often? = 2x day?
For how long = 14 days?...and he has taken how many days....???
If you have taken at least 10 days of the 14 day regime without any interruption you can probably safely stop. But given the severity of his situation and the the dramatic improvement, it sounds like it is doing way more good than harm. It is repeated uses of a variety of antibiotics that can lead to resistance. This one time dose will not cause future issues.
Why would you want to stop something that is clearly helping him improve? Even the steroids, these are temporary to get his immune system to calm down. The thinning skin is temporary.
I hope you find the reason and cause for his problem and can eventually treat that, rather than just treating the symptoms. Have you analyzed his diet and surroundings?
Continue the anitbiotics as everyone else has stated, once the doctor has cleared him there is a cream that you can buy over the counter that is great for eczema. It is called Aveeno, it is the tan with a dark or light blue lid. I prefer the dark blue lid with the colidal oatmeal. A little bit goes a long way and should help to prevent any further break outs, but the current course of action needs to be completed, before this one.
http://www.aveeno.com/babycare/product-home
I would only add: Feel free to ask any medical questions like that of that doctor (via phone). They (through their nurse at least) should be willing to answer those questions to your satisfaction. Hopefully anyway!
I wouldn't stop them (and I am VERY cautious about antibiotics). I have struggled with hand eczema off and on since I was pregnant and the ONLY thing that has kept it at bay was allowing it to completely heal up and then taking extreme precaution in what I allow to come into contact with my hands. That said, I never had an infection so if it got to that point and it is healed now, why even take a chance that there is that tiny bit left that will grow and flourish if given the opportunity. Finish out the antibiotics and try to find the source of his irritation. For me, it is chemicals. I cannot use any hand sanitizers, I wear rubber gloves when cleaning or touching raw meat. If I absolutely have to come in contact with something I wash with dove soap and apply hydrocortisone cream immediately after. My hands have been clear for 2 years now, and it was only after I broke down and completed a round off treatment that I have been able to maintain it on my own.
