Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Request an Appointment
  • Patient Online Services
    • Find
      a Service
    • Find
      a Provider
    • Find
      a Location
    • Visit
      our Blog
    • Contact
      Us
    • Refer
      A Patient
    • Patient Stories
    Don't delay your care:
    • Schedule your appointment now for safe, in-person care.
    • Visit our COVID-19 page for safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information. 
    • Get current patient vaccination updates by region.
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Donate
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • For Medical Professionals
    • About Us
    • Community Resources
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • CaringBridge
    ERROR!

    Find Classes & Events in Your Area

    Posted By
    Tiffany Casper DO

    Tiffany Casper, D.O.

    Family Medicine

    Recent Posts

    • Speaking of Health
      How to get the most out of napping
      March 26, 2018
    • Speaking of Health
      3 tips to keep burnout at bay
      November 09, 2016
    • Speaking of Health
      When periods are painful
      May 24, 2016
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Diabetes
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Speaking of Health
    Friday, January 15, 2021

    Should I use antibiotics or home remedies to treat my child's illness?

    Young child sipping on cup

    For parents, it can be hard to tell whether your child's illness requires antibiotics or if there are other ways to effectively treat his or her symptoms. To prevent overuse of these drugs, it's important to know when home remedies can be used instead of antibiotics.

    If your child has an ear infection, consider using over-the-counter pain relievers in place of antibiotics. Children's ear infections usually improve within two to three days, especially for kids who are 2 years or older. If symptoms do not improve within a few days, it would be wise to take your child in to his or her provider.

    Use antibiotics for an ear infection if your child is age:

    • 6 months or younger
    • 6 months to 2 and has moderate to severe pain
    • 2 or older and experiencing severe symptoms

    Don't use antibiotics to treat your child's cold, flu and most other respiratory infections. Viruses cause most respiratory infections, and antibiotics don't treat viruses. Antibiotics fight bacteria. Learn how bacterial and viral infections differ.

    Instead, offer your child warm liquids, such as tea or soup. Both can have a soothing effect and loosen mucus. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops or saline spray also can loosen nasal mucus. Try running a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room or using steam from a hot shower for additional relief.

    Strep throat is caused by bacteria. However, most children with the symptoms of strep throat have a virus. You should ask for a strep throat test before turning to antibiotics to cure your child's symptoms.

    Ice cream, frozen fruit pops or cold beverages may soothe a sore throat. Older children can try gargling salt water or sucking on throat lozenges. Always encourage your child to get enough rest, so his or her body has a chance to recover.

    Consider getting antibiotics for your child when a cough persists for 14 days or more. Antibiotics also are necessary if a health care provider diagnoses your child with a bacterial infection, such as strep throat.

    Get additional information to help care for your child's health.

    Tiffany Casper, D.O., is a Family Medicine physician in Tomah, Wisconsin.


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Family Medicine
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Parenting

    Stay Connected

    • Hometown Health

    Find Out What’s Happening in Your Community

    Stay Informed with the Latest
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    © 2018 - 2021 Mayo Clinic Health System