Tag Archives: antibiotics

Why Did My Baby Get Thrush?

No one knows. There, satisfied? I’m guessing not. Seriously, though, it can be difficult to pinpoint why babies come down with thrush. There are some things we know for sure concerning thrush. We know that thrush is an overgrowth of the yeast, called candida, found in every person’s body. We know that infants are more susceptible to thrush because their immune systems aren’t fully developed and they are in the process of developing a healthy balance of fungi and bacteria in their bodies. As far as why certain babies get thrush while others do not, there are a lot of … Continue reading →

No, That’s Not Cottage Cheese In My Baby’s Mouth

I love when my daughter smiles, and I love making her laugh. She has yet to pop a tooth, and her gummy grins are almost too cute to take. It was during a smile-fest last week that my husband and I thought we noticed a little white spot on one of her gums. At first we thought it might be a tooth, but realized it was something else. My first thought was that it might be thrush, and we decided to keep a close eye on her mouth. Sure enough, a few days later, we noticed another white spot, this … Continue reading →

Antibiotics: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

I’m currently taking two different types of antibiotics to treat an infected cat bite (ah the joys of working with animals). Here’s a fun fact: the doctor told me that eighty percent of cat bites end up infected. I guess I’ve been lucky so far — I’ve only had two bites get bad. Antibiotics come from two basic places: molds and bacteria. They work in one of two ways: by killing bacteria outright or by stopping their ability to reproduce (so they die out). Different antibiotics work against different types of bacteria — so taking one type of antibiotics for … Continue reading →

Antibiotics and Side Effects

I’m about halfway through my ten days of antibiotics after a recent cat bite (from my work at the cats-only boarding facility) got infected. When I picked up my prescriptions — two different antibiotics for one little cat bite, sheesh — the pharmacist warned me that I might experience some photosensitivity. Did I ever! The first few days were rough, and I relied heavily on my prescription sunglasses and long sleeved shirts. The drive home from work in the afternoon was enough to leave me with the beginnings of a sunburn. Thankfully, the photosensitivity has eased off as I’ve gotten … Continue reading →

Penicillin Allergy

A penicillin allergy is an allergic reaction to penicillin antibiotics. Basically, your body’s immune system overreacts to the drug. A penicillin allergy is the most common type of drug allergy. Some people who are allergic to penicillin are also allergic to other similar or related antibiotics. (I have a penicillin allergy and can’t take other related antibiotics, either.) However, there are many people out there who think they have a penicillin allergy but don’t. Just like other types of allergies, you can outgrow the allergy or become less sensitive to penicillin. Some people may have had a bad reaction as … Continue reading →

The Dentist & The Horror Story

Thank you to Aimee who invited me to share my personal ‘horror’ story here. I’ve been fortunate over the years to not have experienced any great dental emergencies. There was one when I was 19, I’d cracked a tooth due to a car accident, that tooth was cracked so badly that the dentist was unable to rebuild it and so we decided to just extract it – it would be easier. There was the time that I had gone to the dentist for a simple fix and ended up having 4 root canals done on the same day. My daughter … Continue reading →

Belly Button Infections

We most often think of belly button infections as something suffered by persons who have pierced their naval. While this does account for a significant portion of the infections, piercing is not the only way you can get an infection in your belly button. When I was a little girl, my father (I think it was my father, but he’s denying all knowledge) told me that I shouldn’t stick my fingers in my belly button or it would turn black. Being the impressionable soul that I was, I’ve never stuck my fingers in my belly button, and yet last week, … Continue reading →

Ear Infections- Many Parents Are Taking A Wait and See Approach

When your child has an ear infection the standard procedure is to take them to the doctor for antibiotics. Many parents today and some doctors are taking a wait and see approach to this common childhood illness. Some parents say that using pain relievers and a warm bath works just as well. Some actually get the antibiotics but then don’t use them. Many doctors are also forgoing ear antibiotics, especially for kids under the age of 2. Most ear infections will actually clear up on their own without medical intervention. Antibiotics work on for bacterial infections but some of the … Continue reading →

Kids and Earaches

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When your child has an ear infection, what do you do? Do you run to the doctor for antibiotics, or do you watch and wait and see what happens? Often a childhood ear infection will run its course in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics! For the last few years, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been suggesting watchful waiting for ear infections that are not severe. The drawback to over-using antibiotics is that your body (and the bacteria) can become resistant to antibiotics over time. When to watch and wait: If your child is still eating … Continue reading →

Aromatherapy and Your Immune System

Essential oils used in aromatherapy often have very beneficial effects on your immune system. You can use aromatherapy directly to combat various physical and mental problems! But you will find the same immune system benefits from just making aromatherapy a part of your daily life. Inhaling the scent of lavender on a diffuser or in a potpourri not only helps balance and calm you; you also get lavender’s other benefits. Lavender is known to be an antibacterial, but it can also help combat fungal infections and raise white blood cell activity — which will help wounds heal faster. Antibiotics/Antibacterials Essential … Continue reading →