If I Don't Speak For My Child Who Else Will?

My sick child patiently waiting for the doctor

Three weeks ago, my 5 year old daughter caught the cold virus and was sick for a couple of days before she complained of an ear ache that kept her from sleeping one night due to pain. We suspected it could be an ear infection brought about by her cold. Our suspicions were confirmed by a medical professional when we brought her in for a check-up the next day. Albeit in spite of the warnings of rampant prescription of antibiotic non-discreetly advertised in the Clinics flyers, my daughter was prescribed one to cure her infection. Being parents who wants the well-being of their child, we obliged and filled the prescribed drug: Amoxicillin.

She took the medicine for 10 days as instructed which I believe helped in easing her ear aches. On the 12th day, as we were walking home from picking her up from school, I noticed nasty red spots on her nape when she took off her backpack to hand over to me. What the hell were they? Measles?! No way! My daughter is fully vaccinated. I looked inside her shirt. Her back, chest, arms and legs were covered with rashes! I freaked out! I made her cry. I almost cried! I was stunned...

We rushed her back to the Clinic that prescribed the antibiotic. The PA has no clue what it was! I was more freaked out! What the hell is wrong with my child?! The rashes were spreading rapidly all the way to her face. We were advised to go to another Clinic for further testing. I was already agitated at this point.

The lady doctor that looked at her nonchalantly declared that she, my child, is allergic to the antibiotic Amoxicillin and her ear is still mildly red which means her ear infection was viral and NOT BACTERIAL! Though I was relieved that it was only an allergic reation, I was fuming inside... We go to clinics and hospitals to get better not to get sicker!

I did an extensive research online about Amoxicillin and found out that Amoxicillin is widely known for it's highly allergic properties. Why then is it loosely prescribed especially to kids?! Some reactions are fatal as what happened to Eliza Jane who died. Should I be happy that the reaction is only mild? Hell no I'm not! This would have been avoided if there was an stringent guideline in prescribing this highly allergic drug! Affected patients includes infants and toddlers. It is also found that an allergic reaction to Amoxicillin can cause yeast infection in infants! Don't they value the lives of these kids? Our kids?!

My daughter suffered through this ordeal. She missed school and was itching! We literally pumped her little body with yogurt and probiotic drinks to flush the toxic out of her system OR she will end up taking STEROIDS! Isn't this totally absurd??? Steroids at a young age. This is not happening.

The rashes lingered for four days where at the fifth day, it started clearing up. This is the reason why I hate medicating my kid or any kid at all. The side effects are worst than the ailment and I just couldn't stand seeing them suffering like this!

We as a parents should take a stand and demand for a stringent guideline to protect our kids from the horrors of drugs like Amoxicillin. And next time, your child gets an ear infection, demand for a skin test or a challenge test to make sure they're not allergic before your doctor can even begin to write the letter A of Amoxicillin on their prescription pads! Protect your child. Be empowered.

I wish I've known these before we gave her that first dose of Amoxicillin... I feel like I've let my child down. Please don't let this happen to you or your child...Let this serve as a warning for you as it is now for me.

Story by Maricris
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15 ZENSIBLE OPINIONS:

  1. I'm sorry to hear about your little angel. How can the doctors be so careless to give this antibiotic they should take a look at it first before prescribing. Before I was so angry whenever i go to the doctor and they don't prescribe any anti biotic you in the Philippines because they will always check if it viral then no anti biotic will help they just prescribe anti biotic if it is bacterial infection and of course they will ask you if you are allergic or not.
    That's terrible to a child and hank God you act just as fast as what should any parent do.
    I really hope that she will get better asap.
    Hope this week will be better:)
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  2. Good post. We found out that one of my sons was allergic to Amoxicillin the same way. Lucky for us, the wife is a nurse and noticed symptoms in the first few days before much bigger problems occured.

    I read somewhere that 80% of ear infections don't need antibiotics.
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  3. Good blog, wise words. We hope your angel's ear problems are all gone now. The cure should never be worse then the disease.
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  4. That happened to my son as well. When he was not even one. He had loads of ear infections, and they gave him amoxycillin and he broke out in hives. Even on the bottom of his feet. He is allergic to penicillin and that is how we found out! It was horrible and scary, but we now know. My daughter has the swine flu and they gave her the tameflu to take and it gave her hallucinations. We stopped giving it to her.
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  5. my son is allergic to amoxicillin too! I think it's pretty common. It's so hard to see our babies sick. and even worse when we are trying to help them and it only gets worse.
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  6. Oh I am so sorry to hear about your little one! It's not nice when we find the medicine is doing more harm than good. Perhaps your post will save someone else the heartache of having to go through the same experience.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog by the way! x
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  7. This is so awful! Why, in the Philippines it's as easy as pie to buy Amoxicillin in drugstores. In fact I bought 10pcs because anti-biotics are not usually sold here in Sweden without prescriptions. I took one dose which I thought would help relieve my cough. But thank heavens, I'm not allergic to it.

    I hope your little girly feels much better now.
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  8. I'm a huge fan of NOT taking antibiotics! Doctors seem to be so quick to prescribe them for every little thing, but they aren't good for our bodies!! I have rarely treated my son with antibiotics...they are just too scary!!

    I hope your baby is feeling better soon!
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  9. how scary.. I'm glad everything worked out later

    so far we've never had any issues with it

    and.... thanks for visiting my blog and liking my Amazing Etsy Monday. You have some beautiful jewelry.
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  10. hello! i'm happy to meet you and happy to follow you :) great blog! thank you for visiting love lives in the kitchen :)
    hope to hear from you soon and wish you a great day!
    justyna
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  11. Sorry to hear she had such a tough time. Ah, if we could only have healthy kids... Thanks for visitng my blog.
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  12. I'm so surprised to hear of this - Amoxycillin is so widely prescribed here! I never knew the potential side effects, and just assumed they it was fairly benign. I absolutely do not believe in over medicating our kids or our selves. Now thanks to over-use of antibiotics, so called super bugs are developing that cannot be stopped easily.

    Thank goodness you learned this about Amoxycillin and shared it with us - it could have been so much worse for your daughter. She is very lucky. (And don't beat yourself up - it's not your fault!)

    Thanks for sharing this story. Thanks for stopping by my blog - you have a delightful blog yourself!
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  13. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Glad that the rash finally went away. I am allergic to penicilin & got a rash when I was a kid. Now I'm wondering if my 2 year old could be allergic too.
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  14. Ugh! My kids are allergic to many antibiotics, it was no fun finding out. Hope all is well by now :)
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  15. I know I'm late but I was sorry to read this. We all try to do the best we can for our children, with the help of those we think know best.

    After one HORRIBLE experience at a Western medicine doctor's office when our daughter was very young, we immediately switched over to less invasive healing techniques and practitioners who believe in those methods.

    Over 10 years later, our daughter remains healthy and we have never had any adverse reactions.
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