Antibiotics & Kids: What Parents Must Know About Side Effects

As parents, we do everything possible to help our kids enjoy optimal health at every stage. Whether that’s ensuring they eat their vegetables, get sufficient shut-eye each night, or enjoy playtime outdoors, we want them to be happy and healthy. Despite our best efforts to ensure our kids stay well, they will usually get sick at some point in childhood.

Often when kids experience illness, pediatricians will routinely prescribe antibiotics for issues like ear infections. While these medications can save lives, as parents, we must be aware of their potential impact on our kids’ health.

How Long-Term Antibiotic Use Can Harm Children

If you have young kids who have been on antibiotics in their early years, this blog is for you. Each year, an increasing amount of research highlights the risks associated with giving antibiotics to children. Despite decades of awareness, pediatricians, urgent care centers, and other conventional medical systems continue to overprescribe antibiotics at alarming rates.

Moreover, early exposure to antibiotics is identified as one of the top three contributing factors or “ingredients” in what we refer to as “The Perfect Storm.” This refers to the pathway leading to conditions such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic illnesses widespread in kids today.

The overuse of antibiotics could lead to the following:

Increased Risk of Autoimmune Disorders

Antibiotics can disrupt the balance between your child’s immune system and gut microbiome. When this occurs, kids can have a higher risk of conditions such as asthma, allergies, and even obesity.

Greater Possibility of Neurodevelopmental Challenges

Did you know that antibiotics can disrupt the highly delicate connection between the gut and brain? This interference can affect neurotransmitter production—which is crucial for higher brain function, cognition, and emotional regulation—potentially contributing to neurodevelopmental challenges like ADHD and autism.

Disruption of Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of bacteria, plays an essential role in a child’s overall health. Another major downside of antibiotics is that they disrupt the gut microbiome’s natural balance by killing harmful and beneficial bacteria. This leads to imbalances and possible gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea and, in some cases, more serious conditions that could cause severe colitis.

Potential Allergic Reactions

Although allergic reactions to antibiotics are rare, they do occur and can range from mild skin irritations to severe, life-threatening responses like anaphylaxis. It’s vitally important for parents to be aware of any past reactions and communicate them to their child’s healthcare providers.

Antibiotic Resistance + Development of Secondary Infections

Perhaps one of the most alarming concerns is the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or superbugs. When antibiotics are used excessively or inappropriately, bacteria can evolve to become resistant to these drugs, making infections harder to treat and leading to increased medical costs, protracted hospital stays, and increased mortality. Overuse of antibiotics can also lead to the development of secondary infections.

Making Chiropractic Care the First Choice

Again, antibiotics can save lives, so they remain critical in emergencies; however, chiropractic care is a great way to support your child’s defenses against viruses, bacteria, and infections. Eden Prairie chiropractor Dr. ShaRhae Matousek takes a proactive approach by strengthening your child’s body’s natural defense systems versus treating an infection or illness they catch. We consider that a bandage approach.

Adjustments focus on improving their body’s “drainage and plumbing,” alleviating sinus and ear pressure, facilitating easier fluid movement, and transforming dry coughs into productive mucus-clearing ones. By improving the body’s “plumbing” and “wiring,” your children can clear congestion, inflammation, and infections more efficiently and naturally without using antibiotics or other medications.