Scared to Give Antibiotics

Hi P.,

This is a real area of interest to me. Antibiotics do not do anything for the common cold. The big joke between doctors is it takes about 14 days for it to go away without antibiotics and 2 weeks with them. Doctors many times think that we want them to prescribe. They really can't do anything else. Antibiotics are bad because they not only kill the bad bacteria in our body but the good bacteria as well. That is why many women and babies get severe yeast infections after a round of anitibiotics. They can also compromise your immune system. To build an immuntiy to something, you must be exposed and give your body the time to actually fight the virus. How can an 8 month old baby build his immune system up if he never gets the chance to really fight off the sickness that is bothering him. These are things that I do for my babies when they are sick.

I give ivy leaf syrup by enzymatic therapies. Its soothing for the lungs if there is alot of coughing. I also use homeopathics for babies. surprisingly enough, they really work if you can be diligent about giving it around the clock.
Try diffusing eucalyptus oil because it helps to thin bronchial secretions.
Also, you have to try and eliminate mucous producing foods. Dairy, wheat based items, and sugars. If you are not breastfeeding, you should think about trying to get your little one to drink some extra water because hydration is a big factor in getting past sickness. Our bodies cry for water more than we know. anyway, hope that helps some.

A really really great book (a tad bit outdated but still awesome info) is

How to Raise a Healthy Child In Spite of your Doctor by
Robert Mendelsohn. He is a doctor on the board of liscencing in Chicago (I think) and basically tells you everything you can do for minor illnesses and really cracks open myths of the medical field. That book really helped me ALOT.

Hope this helps.

Part of the apprehension about antibiotics is that they kill ALL bacteria within the body...including the "good" bacteria that help build our natural immune system. Overexposure to antibiotics can compromise the body's natural defenses overall. Another concern is that overuse of antibiotics within the body can create an immunity to the antibiotic itself, requiring stronger antibiotics over time. Occasionally, an antibiotic will be prescribed for a viral infection. Viral infections are different and antibiotics do not fight the virus. Generally speaking, the best advice I've always been given is if your baby is not running any fever and the mucous is clear, it is most likely allergies. Antibiotics don't help allergies, but some pediatricians will prescribe them to prevent infection from occurring. My preference has always been to wait. Just because your doctor gives you a prescription doesn't mean you have to fill it. You can always wait a few days or a week to see what happens. If your son starts to run fever, you can fill the prescription at that point. There's always something to be said for maternal instinct!

Try using colodial silver. It can be put in their ears for ear infections. Mix with juice and drink it or if they will drink it straight so much better. It can be put on cuts and scrapes and will stop infection. It is a natural infection fighter. I have used it for years and had great results. In fact I make my own and keep it on hand should any need arise. Another thing that is great for cough and congestion is Grapefruit Seed Extract which comes in capsules. You could break open the capsule and sprinkle a little on their food and mix it in for them to eat.

Well, I believe that there is a definite over-prescribing of antibiotics in the US. And, as my anatomy professor shared, I also agree most pediatricians go ahead and prescribe them more to ease the mind of the parents. They will do anything to actually cure a non-bacterial illness. Antibiotics will not cause any harm, and if there is an infection thank God we have them. The fear is, that with the over-usage, we are building up a tolerance, and the infections will become immune to what we have and that will cause us a lot of delimma in the future. On the other hand, there is something going around with severe congestion, coughing , runny nose, etc. I've had it, my 6 year old has it and my 2 1/2 year old has it. After a week of suffering, I went to the Dr. who prescribed me a Z-pack(antibiotic)(I was also coughing up dark phlegm) and it was 60% better in 2 days. So, obviously I had some kind of infection going on there. A good way to tell, is any of his mucous green in color? Fever? Those are signs of an infection. My 6 year old just has the cough and runny nose/congestion. I'm using the humidifier in the room, Tylenol cough and cold, which won't cure it I know, but will atleast help to ease the symptoms between dosages, and Vicks on his chest at night. If I notice fever or dark green however, it's off to the pediatrician we go. My two year old had the same symptoms last week, but on Sunday she started with the low-grade fever and saying her ear hurt, so I did get her antibiotics and ear drops and she only has the cough and runny nose(clear) left now, which I know has to run it's course and can take as long as 2 weeks. So, use your gut, you can simply ask your pediatrician(just call back up there and leave a message with his/her nurse) as to what exactly you are treating with the antibiotics. I would definately do that if I wasn't sure to ease my mind. And, if your son isn't taking antibiotics like crazy, just being prescribed them for everything here and there, then there really isn't a worry if he did take them, just make sure he finishes them completely or they were useless. Also, make sure he's getting vitamin C!

P.,
It takes 7-10 days for a cold to run its course. If there is no fever, no ear infection, and no chest congestion, I would say hold off and let the cold run its course. My son had Fifth's disease (severe cold, slap cheek look, and rash) which then manifested itself in me as severe joint pain. We have a prescription for antibiotics from his pediatrician, but the pede asked me NOT to fill it unless the cold from the Fifth's progressed into a sinus infection or something worse. Fifth's is a virus, just like a cold, and antibiotics won't help a cold.

Infection symptoms that can require antibiotics:
swollen glands
swollen tonsils
fever
ear ache
"it hurts behind my eyes when I blow my nose" is a big one at our house indicating a sinus infection (I know with small children this is not something you will hear).

There is NOTHING wrong with giving prescribed antibiotics if you do the correct dose at the correct time and use it for all the days prescribed for an infection. The problem with using antibiotics for a virus is that your child may become resistant to normal antibiotics and require stronger and stronger ones to get at normal bacterial infection. Just keep an eye on the cold and see if it stays "just a cold" or becomes an ear infection, sinus infection, tonsilitis, or bronchitis.

Anyway, that is my two cents. Whatever you decide know that you are doing the best you can for your child and as a mom your instincts about your child should be trusted and listened to!!

a sign of infection would be when his snot turns green, any pulling on his ears also a good indicator. the bad thing about antibiotics is that you build up an immunity to them just like any other medication that you take too frequently or when you don't really need it. then when you really do need it, well it won't work as well! i am surprized that your dr. gave it out when it sounds like she didn't think that the child needed it! perhaps she was trying to save you from another office visit in a week or two if he did develop infection. colds take weeks to go away! keep the rx and wait and see if he gets the infection first!then give it if needed. by the way not all infections need antibiotics! perhaps in a small child they do because they haven't developed their own antibodies yet. if you are breast feeding you are giving him some of your antibodies. if you do go with the antibiotic, be sure to follow the label carefully, most are given with food and give the full perscription or the child could get worse! good luck

My peditrician won't give my 12 month old antibiotics and he has had some severe colds/flu/respiratory stuff. It actually makes me really mad. Instead they have given him albuterol and pulmicort (an inhaled steriod to boost his immune system) to help him breathe and losen the chest congestion. He wheezes when he gets sick, but doesn't have asthma. He has had a cold for a week now with a nasty runny nose and a slight cough, but no fever. The ped. says not to give antibotics unless it is absolutely necessary- doctors are so quick to give antibiotics that we are now immune to half of them and they have to prescribe higher and higher doses. The younger you give your child anitbiotics- the more likely they are to become immune to them- so when they are 8 and have a severe infection- they will need extreme doses of the medicine. There is something going around right now- some cold (my husband and I have both had it for over a week- and guess what the antibiotics aren't helping!!!) and my son has it now. I would try to wait it out- if your child gets worse, start the antibiotics, or ask for another prescription.

It looks like you've gotten some pretty good advice for the most part. I just wanted to say a few things. I too agree about not giving antibiotics for every little thing. With that said, I would look into getting a second opinion and/or think about switching doctors. I know it might be a hassle to deal with or do, but in looking out for the best interest of your child, I think you should find the best doctor for you and your child. I have gone to the doctor multiple times to ease my mind and make sure my son's colds are nothing more than just colds and almost every time I have walked away with the doctor telling me he is fine and he will get over it, it's just a cold. My son has one right now, he seems to have gotten back to back colds, since he just got over one. However, I'm also suspecting his runny nose might have something to do with getting 4 teeth in (2 molars)...Just turned a year old. Anyway, I don't know what else to tell you but to just trust your instincts and do what you feel is best for you and your child in the long run. Take care and I hope he gets to feeling better soon!

Hi P.,

Did your doctor test for RSV? I just took my 16 month old son in yesterday with a cough, runny nose, and congestion (no fever) and he has RSV. Not that there's much you can do about that either but with him being so young, they may want to do breathing treatments. My son is also wheezing.

Since RSV is a virus, my doctor didn't prescribe antibiotics.

If your son starts wheezing, take him back in and ask that he be tested for RSV. You can go to WebMd and look up RSV there for symptoms, treatment, etc..

I would wait a few more days. James my 2 year old has had a cough and congestion for the last week and we just watched it. Finally Tuesday night he said his ear hurt, so Wed we took him in and sure enought ear infection so he is now on an antibiotic. I don't always even treat ear infections with antibiotics. Usually I will let them run thier course in the summer, but with him already haveing a junky cough and all, I choose to this time. This in the 2nd perscription he has had in his life.

Because your baby is little and can't tell you if it goes into his ears, I would just watch carefully, if he starts running a fever, having a really hard time sleeping, or gets really fussy, I might go ahead and get it filled and give it to him.

YOu have to decide what is best for your little one, but antibiotics have their place and are very helpful when used right.

Good luck!

My advice to anyone asking about the pros/cons and issues regarding a prescription, or even OTC medication is to ask your pharmacist. They are much more knowledgable about it b/c of the massive amounts of chemistry, etc they have to learn as opposed to M.D.'s & D.O.'s, who have to learn some, but not nearly as much. And, they are much more accessible than the doctor--just walk up to the counter & ask away. I've never had one yet act bothered or anything. I've even called them on the phone, and they are always very kind and helpful.

I have always been told that if they have a cold/cough it can last for 7 days -2 weeks. as long as there is no secondary fever/infection (that means that after they are sick then they get a fever or they have a fever then it goes away for a few days then comes back) then I would wait it out for a few days. but if the mucus is green or yellow or brown then give the antibiotics.

while you are waiting it out you can get a humidifier or vaporizer and use chest creams and robitusson D for cough.

Good luck, A. J

Hi P., this is tough because as moms we want to stay on the safe side when it comes to our kids health. So no one can tell you indefinitely to give or not give your kids medicine, especially if the pediatrician that you have selected is prescribing it for you. However, I, like you, do not like giving my kids antibiotics and never have. They are 7,9,11. The last time we went to our pediatrician and he prescibed something, I didn't get it filled. Since I don't like medicating my kids, I am firm believer in common sense health. I let colds run their course, do my best to keep them comfortable. The only time I get a little concerned is if they have a high fever for several days straight. But even then, I usually just pray alot. I do the OTC stuff for fever and runny, stuffy noses and things like that. But I also believe in kids getting a lot of sleep, drinking lots of water, washing hands, eating lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains, and no sugar. And vitamin c tablets. I just believe that if we take good care of our bodies, they will heal themselves. But again, I won't tell you to not give your child something that your pedi prescribed. I just wanted to share with you what I do and have done and encourage you to not be afraid to NOT give antibiotics if you feel its not necessary. Chances are you are right.

Not to sound exactly like everone else, but Antibiotics are WAY OVER perscribed...like MANY other things.

I think if your child has been sick for only 4 days, that you should allow things to run it's course. We have a WONDEFUL perdiatrician that says that if a fever can be controlled by Tylenol or Motrin, the child is breathing well (even if just through the mouth) and the child is drinking plenty of fluids, that you should let it run it's course.

We all get colds and want to run to the dr. If it's viral, nothing but time will help. I know you hate to see your kids sick ( I know I do) but know that each time they get a little cold, their bodies are producing white blood cells the attack and get them well. This is good for them and in the long run, allowing their immune system to do it's job rather than give it a crutch will help your child become a healthy adult.

If you are in the Dallas Area, I would be more than happy to refer you a pediatrician that will educate rather than prescribe.

Hi P., I am also very much against antibiotics because they lower your own immune system to fight things off yourself. A Dr. these days will not let you hardly leave without giving you a prescription for antibiotics, because for them (The Doctors) It's better to be safe than sorry. Their malpractice insurance may even require they prescribe them. I'm just teasing about that, but they don't want to risk a law suit. The worst thing about them is people take them for every little thing, but won't take the entire prescription. If they really need them & don't finish prescription, they will probably shortly relapse & now whatever bacteria has caused the infection, is stronger & same antibiotic might not work. It can be an endless cycle. I used to get strepp (sp?)throat as a teenager all the time. When I became pregnant with my first child (He's 29 now & probably has had only antibiotics twice in entire life, one of those times being neccessary due to surgery) anyway I called my OBGYN & told the Doctor he had to call me in an antibiotic immediately because I was coming down with strep throat. He told me to go gargle with warm salt water 4 times a day & call back if I got worse. I started panicking and told him, he did not understand, that the last time I had strepp throat my fever had reached 104 & I had a history of strepp throat. He told me nicely but firmly, You don't understand "I said gargle with warm salt water & call back if you get worse or don't get rid of it in 2 days. I did get rid of it, got it back about 6 months later, gargled with the salt water, got it back about a year later, did the salt water & have never had it again and that was 30 years ago. I have 4 sons and they have never had antibiotics unless they have been absolutely necessary. With your little one, it sounds like your son has his first cold and it could take a few more days to run its course. If your son starts pulling at his ear & starts running a fever, I would give antibiotics. If he starts coughing up yellow or green colored phlem then that indicates an infection & yes start antibiotics. A fever is the best indicator of an infection. With chilren & ear infections, their fever will or can start to rise fast, so frequently taking his temperature is your best bet. Do not give fever reducer if temp is just slightly high because we get fever for a reason and that is to fight off infection. You take a fever reducer just because you have a low grade temp & feel miserable, it will prolong you getting well. No temperature, then take them or give to your little one, because no reason for being miserable if your not fighting off a fever. Especially when they get their shots or teething. One of my worst cases of strepp throat was due to a product that used to be on market called asper-gum. It was great at releiving sore throat pain & temp, but only a band aid for a bigger problem. Sorry for short novel and I'm sure you'll hear many disagree with me. Just use Your best judgement and you'll be fine. I'm just very thankful that my Doctor refused to give them to me & put his butt on the line. He's not a quack, delivered about 15 babies between me, my sisters & neices that used him. Not even one C-section. Sorry Ladies, he's retired. Best of Luck P.!

Sounds like the antibiotics are unnecessary. I would seek a second opinion. The pediatrician we use seems to be more in line with your philosophy. We've been to the doctor 3 or 4 times for various issues and our doctor has yet to prescribe an antibiotic saying each time that the cold should run it's course (10-14 days...call back if...) and that antibiotics will only give them diarrhea in the case of a viral infection. They have notes posted about that all throughout the office. The doctors are Nail, Guetersloh, and Newton (Centennial Pediatrics).

Good luck!

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4401 Coit Road
Frisco, TX 75035
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3721738949

The major concern with giving antibiotics is the resistance issue. To avoid this it is important that you give the entire prescribed course.

I don't like giving my kids antibiodics either. Luckily my daughter only needed it one time when she was little, but that one time she ended up getting a yeast rash on her bum from them. My advice is to take him to the Chiropractor. My son had a cough from 1 to 4 weeks old, it just wouldn't go away! I finally took him to get adjusted and it went away. It also works for ear infections and other things.
Also, since you're into home remedies, try putting vicks vapor rub on his feet and cover them with socks when he sleeps. It helps control their cough!

wow.....you got some AWESOME advice! It sounds like there is a clear, common awareness in these responses: antibiotics can be harmful when used inappropriately. I am a former nursing student who learned early in my clinicals how harmful it can be to overuse antibiotics. MRSA is something you might want to google. This is just one result from overusing antibiotics.

If you think about it, the doctors are more educated on this topic than most people....(well, except pharmacists because they specialize in meds), so they should know better. . It's amazing how these doctors continue prescriping medications that are "hurting" us and our children in the long run. What I was told is that it has to do with revenue. There are many, many people who go to the doctor and expect something in return. If they are told to go home and rest and drink lots of water and orange juice, chances are that they will not be back. They want something concrete in their hands to make their visit worthwhile. The end result is that doctors are "buying" their patients, not "treating" them. Personally, I shopped around for a pediatrician who I trusted and whose practices didn't include putting patients at risk just to increase business.

Communication is the key between you and your doctor. I would discuss your concerns before making assumptions. Knowing that antiobiotics cannot cure viruses, give your doctor the opportunity to explain. There may be more going on than you are aware of. This brings another problem, however. Your doctor sounds as though he/she doesn't promote awareness. You should completely understand your child's diagnosis, how and why meds are prescribed and all questions should be answered by the time you leave the office. If this isn't being done, you have not found the right pediatrician. Your child's health is dependent on your awareness. Not many people have the time or the money to get a second opinion from another doctor all the time, so you might want to make a decision up front as to which pediatrician has safe practices. Good luck!

Not sure if anyone else said this but you can give him probiotics in his bottle to build up the good bacteria. You can find it in the health food stores in the refrigerated section. It really helped my son.
If you son is still sick after a week I'd go ahead and do the antibiotic. Sometimes it does turn into a secondary infection and things like ear infections tend to need an antibiotic. Your doctor should be giving you the right kind of antibiotic though.
As far as nebulizer treatments if you think that antibiotics are strong, the corticosteroids in the medications for the nebulizer are stronger. Unless he has a problem like bronchiolitis or chronic wheezing or coughing, I'd stray away from that. Take him into the bathroom and run the hot water so he can breathe in the steam.

I am surprised the pedi just perscribed someting with no infections. If mine cannot find an infection, no antibiotics. She will run lab work also to verify if there are no signs. With ear infections she does not believe in antibiotics right away. She says most will go away on their own. If it gets worse and not better then she will perscribe an antibiotic. I think antibiotics don't always do as good as people think. It builds up a tolerence top them and then if you do need one, it may not work as well because they were to quickly given for other things that did not really need an anti-biotic. I would take him back to the doctor first.

If I'm understanding correctly your child's dr said there is no infection but prescribed an antibiotic. If so thats crazy. An antibiotic is only going to help if there is an actual infection. So say you have a normal cold no infection and your taking antibiotics its not doing a thing but weakening your immune system. My kids go to the pediatrician of Houston they have several office including one at Texas Children's hospital and they don't prescribe antibiotics unless necessary. Its already been said but its true alot of dr's know that alot of parents are eased when they leave the office with something prescribed. There are alot of home remedies given to you in some of the other replies you should try some of them. I love the vicks if one of my kids have a mild cold the vicks will knock it out over night and for a more severe cold the vicks will at least get it at bay. I always used it under the nose and on chest until I saw where the other mom's from here were saying the feet and I tryed that and it seems to work even better. Our feet play an important role to different parts of our bodies I'm guessing thats why. Good luck and it does sound like you need to find someone else to treat your children if your doctor isn't going to communicate with you better and practice more thought out.

I feel the same way about antibiotics. I don't like to give them for every little thing, so I would just continue to watch him for another day or two and then consider it. Just be sure that when you do give it to him, you give ALL of the prescribed course of the drug, even if your child starts to feel better. One of the other reasons the antibiotics become ineffective is becuase people don't give the full regimen and this causes immunity to the drug to build up. Best of luck. It's so hard to know when to treat our little ones, but just use your best judgement and make sure to use the medication exactly as directed.

I found a website that should answer your questions. It can be found at http://co.ba.md.us/Agencies/health/children/illness/antib.... I hope that soon your baby will feel much better.

i kind of understand how you feel. currently, i am giving my 5-month old anti-biotics for a cold, but i wasn't too eager about it. i read somewhere that if your doctor prescribes them, wait two days and if the child is not better, then give them. that's because our bodies usually will heal themselves if given the time. however, my son was sick for a few weeks and wasn't getting better, so i had to break down and give them to him.

i think part of the big deal is that when we our so quick to just give anti-biotics, the germs get stronger learning how to get around the anti-biotics. not sure, but you might you may want to read up on it some. good luck.

I am a little late in posting, but I just wanted to tell you that your dr most likely prescribed something b/c this time of year is really bad for babies and colds.....RSV, and all that other junk could develop...I would rather be safe than sorry! I know several people have told you antibiotics are "bad", and all that, but I personally don't ignore the dr when they give me advice...after all, I didn't got to medical school for 8 years...they did! I was very sick last week for 8 days and I am pregnant...my daughter then got what I had...I did fill the prescription my dr gave me.....I know if she felt at all like I felt I had to get her some relief! You are the mom and you should serioulsy sit down w/your ped and tell him/her your hesitations...

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You're correct to not want to give antibiotics for a cold. Colds are viral and antibiotics are only useful at fighting bacterial infections. It sounds like your son just has a cold. We deal with this all the time because my son is very prone to sinus infections. When this happens to him, we watch it for a few days. We don't give antibiotics unless his symptoms aren't better after 10 days or if he spikes a fever after several days of symptoms. Colds start to subside after 4 or 5 days. Infections are more persistent and can be painful with or without a fever.
I would just hold on to the prescription and only fill it if you need to. If you've already filled it, read the label to see when the medicine expires. Many antibiotics only last for 10 days once it's mixed in the pharmacy. So, if you end up needing it, you may only have a few days left. In that case you'd need to get your doc to refill it.

Antibiotics in an 8 month old are an effort to ward off bronchitis, pneumonia, or bronchiolitis. Signs of bronchitis would be worsening cough, hacky sound in his chest. Pneumonia can show with or WITHOUT fever, it's visible on a chest x-ray and typically shows with pain in the chest and difficulty catching your breath. Bronchiolitis looks like pneumonia and bronchitis, plus bluish tinge to the skin. Bronchiolitis is what makes RSV so deadly.

The other thing is the fact that a cold without bacterial involvement should be getting better after 7 - 10 days. If it progresses past that, it may have become bacterial - which would require antibiotics, especially in a baby under 2.

Antibiotics get a bad rap because people take them until they start feeling better, instead of until the pills are gone. That means that most of the bacteria die, but the ones that live are the strongest - and they multiply into things like MRSA and other "Super bugs". The other issue is that so many colds are viral, and antibiotics don't do anything against a virus.

The doctor prescribed antibiotics because, in her medical opinion, your son needs them. I'd get it filled and give it to him, or I'd call the doctor and ask when she advises you start administering it.

S.

If there is no infection, I would not give antibiotics. Bacteria are becoming resistant to common antibiotics, which is the problem. When kids need them, they aren't working.

Both have my children have been on antibiotics once. My son's (almost 3) toenail fell off and it was grossly infected. My daughter (20 months) had an ear infection that was still very infected at 2 weeks, so we went ahead with the antibiotic. She had 3 other ear infections during her first year that we didn't treat.

Antibiotics? I got an innocent prescription for amoxicillin last year and first, broke out in a rash of small water blisters (everywhere) then my skin turned purple; the blisters turned black then sheets of skin fell off me. I nearly died. It's called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Children die from it more often than medical practitioners would like you to know. I nearly died from it and it was excruciating. AS were the treatments. I still have scars all over me as well as purple spots on my legs that will never go away. I cannot have any more children, can't drink (don't anyway) and am working HARD to rebuild my stamina.
Not to say this happens to everyone but try to save them for a last resort. I commend your efforts to avoid giving them to your child; you may need to give them anyway. But please keep this is mind. the rash itches and stings at first. So if your son complains, stop giving the meds, call your doctor, perhaps give Benadryl and take him to the emergency room. If he does have it, insist he go to the BURN WARD, do not take no for an answer. They can treat him better.
Antibiotics are abused and, I feel, prescribed more often than needed in substitution for good old fashioned diagnosis and care. Sounds like if there is no infection, your pediatrician should not have prescribed the a.b.'s. I would look into a new pediatrician.
Hope your little guy feels better, I hope this helps and by all means, I hope this didn't scare anyone else reading this. But as a mom myself, I would rather get the cold hard truth.
Take Care P..-A.

Maybe your baby would benefit from some respiratory treatments with a nebulizer. You have to call and ask if that could be an alternative route, but it also contains steroids sometimes and other medications that could increase heart rate and cause irritability. You don't want your baby to get pneumonia then be in the hospital with IV's. Sometimes antibiotics are the way to go when it's been weeks like that. Symptoms that require possible antibiotics are fever and lung congestion that is audible with a stethescope, green or brown secretions and length of time child is sick. Your baby may have fever when you aren't checking too. Like when they are asleep at night or really quiet in the day. Good luck and God bless.

I'm not scared to give antibotics when necessary but I do agree they are definitely given out like candy. Anyways, my daughter has the same symptoms as your son and the pedi said to just give OTC something that had antihistamine, decongestent, and suppressent. However this is for a 2yo so I would call your pedi back and find out if there's something you can give an 8 month old. The cold will go away on it's own but at least you might be able help him get a bit of relief. You might want to also try vicks, I never tried it with my daughter but I know they make an infant version so that might help a bit also.

Look up MRSA. It almost killed my daughter. That's what's wrong with antibiotics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRSA

I am not a doctor but I have worked with children the last 10 years and have seen alot I also have a 4yr old of my own, that being said...If he has no fever then its probley not an infection. The bad thing about antibiotics is children can build up a resistince to them so say you give your son the antibiotics now hes body can build up an immunity to them and when he really has an infection then the type and dose he will need to fight the infection will have to be more. Also, there are side effects and reactions that can happen with antibiotics, alergic reactions, rash, thrush, yeast infection to just name a few. It is probley just a cold that your son has, also low grade fevers 101 or below are the bodies natrual immune system tring to fight off any sickness. The main thing to watch for in this time of year is RSV witch is a respitory infection and can get bad with babies.