Pediatrician Svitlana Veretenko told what not to do in case of ARVI.

The doctor does not recommend immediate use of antibiotics and here is why

In the case of some viral infections, the temperature can even rise above 40 degrees.

This, of course, scares the sick, and they start using antibiotics.

But antibiotics do not act on viruses, they cannot be used only for the prevention of complications ("so that it does not go down", "so that there is no pneumonia").

If at the first suspicion that there may be a complication, antibiotics are used, this can provoke the development of resistance (resistance) to bacteria.

Therefore, antibiotics should be used only in the case of a confirmed bacterial infection, as prescribed and by a doctor's prescription.

Antiviral drugs should not be used

According to pediatricians, the effectiveness of antiviral drugs has not been proven.

There are a lot of viruses and they mutate quickly, so antiviral drugs are usually ineffective, which is confirmed by numerous scientific studies.

The exception is some drugs for the influenza virus, not SARS, namely the confirmed influenza virus in the early stages of the disease, drugs for the treatment of some strains of herpes and hepatitis.

There are clear indications for prescribing these drugs.

Homeopathic medicines should not be used

Svitlana Veretenko calls into question the main principle of homeopathy, that "like is treated with like" and that small doses of the active substance used in it can affect the body.

The effect of homeopathy, in her opinion, is the placebo effect, besides, it is also burdensome on your wallet.

The effectiveness of the use of herbal preparations and essential oils has not been confirmed, in addition, they can cause allergic reactions and bronchospasm.

Do not use cough syrups in children under 5-6 years of age

Most cough syrups contain mucolytics - substances that thin out sputum, thus increasing its amount.

Children up to 5-6 years old have a weak cough impulse, it is difficult for them to cough up mucus.

Therefore, the use of cough syrups at an early age can worsen the situation.

And for children under one year, the use of mucolytics is extremely dangerous.

The doctor does not advise using "complex" drops in the nose

It means drops with an antibiotic.

Just like conventional antibiotics, their off-label use contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance.

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