Can I give chloramphenicol to children with diarrhea and diarrhea

Levomicetin is antibacterial drug of broad-spectrum. This drug is effective against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is almost instantly absorbed from the cavity of the stomach and into the bloodstream. To achieve maximum concentration of drug in the blood should be about 2 hours. The antibiotic penetrates well into all of the fluid that is in the body, including breast milk. In addition, the drug is well penetrates through the placental barrier. Doctors still prescribe this drug to patients of different ages. And here many parents, the question arises, can you give chloramphenicol to babies?

A General description of the drug

Pills Chloramphenicol is an antibacterial drug of broad-spectrum, which has a strong antimicrobial effect. The active substance acts as the antibiotic chloramphenicol, which violates the protein synthesis of pathogens. This antibiotic is rapidly absorbed, and the effective concentration in the blood lasts up to 5 hours. Most of the drug is found in the cells of the liver and kidneys.

From pathogens resistance to this drug produced a very long time.

Indications for use

Chloramphenicol children appointed in a number of pathologies of an infectious nature, which are triggered by antibiotic-sensitive bacteria:

  • typhus and typhoid fever.
  • whooping cough and paracoccus;
  • meningitis;
  • chlamydia;
  • sepsis;
  • dysentery;
  • gonorrhea;
  • pneumonia of different etiology.

Some parents start to give a baby Chloramphenicol at the onset of diarrhea, can not do this without a doctor, as diarrhea can be caused by viruses or fungi, to which this antibacterial drug is not sensitive.

In some diseases, levomicetin is more effective than modern antibiotics.

How to take the medication

If the doctor prescribed Chloramphenicol child, it is very important to precisely follow the dosage. If the doctor has not appointed another treatment, it is possible to adhere to the doses indicated in the instructions for use:

  • Children under 3 years of age – prescribed to 15 mg per kilogram of body weight.
  • Children from 3 to 8 years – 15 to 20 mg per kilogram of body weight.
  • Children older than 8 years – up to 30 mg per 1 kg of body weight.

Levomicetin is a pretty serious antibiotic, it is usually administered to children only if cannot be replaced by a more modern drug. If your doctor has prescribed baby levomitsetin, in the process of treatment is necessary to constantly monitor the blood counts.

Children from 3 to 8 years is usually prescribed capsules or tablets 125 mg up to 4 times per day. Kids older than 8 years of age taking capsules of 250 mg up to 4 times per day.

Take the drug half an hour before a meal. In rare cases in young patients after taking antibiotic there is a strong nausea, if these side effects pills drink an hour after eating.

Treatment usually lasts from a week to 10 days. If tolerated by child this drug may continue therapy up to 2 weeks.

Diarrhea caused by food or bacteria that make levomitsetin need no more than 5 days.

Contraindications

Assigning Chloramphenicol children, the doctor must consider a number of contraindications which make this drug is not recommended. Contraindications include such diseases and conditions in the child:

  • dysfunction of the blood;
  • intolerance to the components that are part of the medication;
  • skin diseases are fungal nature;
  • acute respiratory infections;
  • angina.

With caution is prescribed Chloramphenicol child who has chronic heart disease, or he suffers from allergies. The drug is rarely prescribed for children up to one year. Most often this occurs when alternative treatment is not suitable for any reason.

In exceptional cases, an antibiotic may be prescribed to children up to one year. In this case, compare the expected benefit and potential risk from ingestion.

Side effects

Chloramphenicol can give many side effects, especially if it is prescribed in large doses. The side effects include nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and irritation of the mucous membranes.

Chloramphenicol has a toxic effect on the hematopoietic system, therefore, during treatment with this antibiotic drug is very important to regularly monitor blood counts in children. In addition, we need regular monitoring of liver and kidney. During treatment may have serious side effects, such as decreased numbers of red blood cells and aplastic anemia, which is difficult to treat. When such condition occur bleeding of different Genesis. The complications are more dangerous than a large dose the patient is taking.

At reception of tablets and capsules in children often develop goiter, which is accompanied by development of a fungal infection. Too large doses can cause in children disorders of vision, hearing, and hallucinations, and confusion of consciousness.

The treatment of Chloramphenicol at thechildren can develop so-called gray syndrome in a young patient is constantly nauseous, lowered blood pressure and body temperature, as well as the skin takes on a grayish hue. This condition is extremely dangerous for child as it can lead to death.

Chloramphenicol for the treatment of children assigned only as a last resort, when alternatives to this medicine no. It is very important to observe the prescribed dosage.

Overdose

Failure to comply with the prescribed dose can cause symptoms of overdose. Their severity depends on the amount of Chloramphenicol that was adopted by the child. So, the baby may experience the following health disorders:

  • the increase in body temperature, pallor, fatigue and atypical weakness;
  • sore throat, bruising and bleeding of different origin;
  • dyspepsia;
  • the skin becomes grayish hue;
  • disrupted the heart and breathing;
  • impaired vision and hearing.

If the dosages were greatly exceeded, there is confusion reactions and hallucinations. With the untimely assistance provided may be respiratory collapse, which will lead to death.

If you experience symptoms of an overdose victim wash out the stomach and give the sorbents. Optionally connected to the apparatus of artificial lung ventilation and hemodialysis.

If the child has any symptoms of an overdose, it is necessary to call an ambulance!

Features of the drug

Assigning children levomitsetin, it is necessary to consider some peculiarities of the use of this drug.

  1. This antibiotic can not interfere in the syringe with the penicillin group of drugs, macrolides and aminoglycosides, as they are deposited.
  2. With meningitis, you can assign simultaneously with chloramphenicol with ampicillin and amoxicillin.
  3. Antibiotic does not combine with other medications that increase the risk of side effects. These include haematological and hepatotoxic drugs, and iron supplements.
  4. Antibacterial drug reduces the action of cyclophosphamide, due to which he is not converted in the liver to the active metabolite and does not have the desired antitumor effect.

It is worth considering that the concentration of Chloramphenicol in cerebrospinal fluid is always higher when taken orally than when administered intravenously.

For several decades, Chloramphenicol is prescribed to patients of different age groups in a variety of infections. This medicines many side effects and some contraindications, so you can take it only after doctor's prescription.