“How long should a child take antibiotics?”
My son is 5 years old. I want to know how long should a child take antibiotics?
5 Answers
10 days
Hi
It depends on what he is getting the antibiotics for. It can be from 5 to 10 days but completely depends on the type of infection being treated.
It depends on what he is getting the antibiotics for. It can be from 5 to 10 days but completely depends on the type of infection being treated.
You should always take the antibiotic for the entire duration that is prescribed. Most antibiotics are prescribed for a 10-day course, but there are a few that are shorter than this. The most important thing is to complete the entire prescribed course to prevent the infection from returning and to decrease the risk of developing resistance to antibiotics.
It depends on what the child is being treated for. Usually it’s around 10 days unless there is a serious infection that is being treated.
Your child should take the antibiotics for the length of time prescribed by the provider. Different infections require different lengths of treatment. There are also differences in the antibiotics themselves. For example, ear infections are treated for 10 days with amoxicillin, but if the antibiotic prescribed is azithromycin it may be taken for 3 or 5 days depending on the dose and will remain in the child's system for ten days. Urinary tract infections may be treated for 3, 5, 7, or 10 days depending on the age of the child and the severity of the infection. Skin infections are typically treated for 7 days. Serious infections like bone infections may be treated for 4 to 6 weeks. Always give the antibiotics for the entire length of time they are prescribed. If you stop early, you may cause your child to acquire a resistant infection the next time.
