I get frustrated and sad when I hear a friends kid is on antibiotics, especially if they are under 2 years of age. There is little doubt that antibiotics cause stress to the gut mucosa lining. There is also clear indication that antibiotics may not be useful for the common infant/toddler ear and sinus infections. The good news is that many pediatricians are cautious to only use antibiotics as a last resort. There are other options such as dietary changes (often sugar or cow’s dairy can be a culprit), increasing vitamin D levels and using essential oils. Chinese Medicine has a 2000+ year history of treating common infant/toddler issues that existed a millennium ago as they exist today. There are many alternatives before one subjects their child to antibiotics.
Why am I writing this? Because a study was just released that seems to indicate a higher incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) later in life if given antibiotics at a young age. There is little doubt on the effect of antibiotics to the gut and it is very important to take good probiotics while taking antibiotics to protect your gut from further inflammation. If a child needs antibiotics then they certainly need to be on a good probiotic as there are many on the market that are easy to administer and made for infants/toddlers.
Yours In Health,
George Mandler CNS LDN LicAc
