Children have high fever and are in critical condition when parents arbitrarily use antibiotics.

Ms. Huong (29 years old, living in Hanoi) panicked and took her 6-year-old daughter Bao Tran to the emergency room when her condition worsened after a few days of taking antibiotics. This was not the first time the family had bought antibiotics for their child without a doctor's prescription and this time, the consequences were extremely serious.

Bao Tran, 6 years old, started having symptoms of fever and persistent cough for a week. Instead of taking her daughter to the hospital for examination, Ms. Huong bought antibiotics from a nearby pharmacy on the advice of the pharmacist. She thought that antibiotics were the fastest and most effective way to help her daughter recover.

"My child has had a fever and cough before, each time I used antibiotics and saw her recover quickly. This time I don't think differently, I just want her to recover quickly so that it doesn't affect her studies," Ms. Huong shared in tears.

After taking antibiotics for a day, Bao Tran's condition not only did not improve but also became worse. She began to have a rash all over her body, itching, swelling around her eyes, stomachache, nausea, and vomiting. The climax was when Bao Tran had a high fever and convulsions, her family rushed her to the hospital in critical condition.

At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed Bao Tran with an antibiotic allergy. The doctor also discovered that the baby was antibiotic resistant - a phenomenon when bacteria in the body develop the ability to resist the effects of antibiotics due to improper drug abuse. This made Bao Tran's treatment much more difficult.

Nam, 4 years old, in Hanoi, had to be taken to the emergency room because his parents arbitrarily gave him antibiotics. Nam had a cough and a slight fever. Wanting him to recover quickly, Nam's parents bought antibiotics for him to take.

After a few days, Nam's condition did not improve, on the contrary, he coughed more and started having difficulty breathing. At this point, Nam's parents were shocked and took him to the hospital. After examination, the doctors diagnosed Nam with severe pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized for treatment. The doctor said that using the wrong dose of antibiotics and the wrong disease made his condition worse. Nam had to be hospitalized for two weeks before he could fully recover.

Dr. Ha To Nhu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, An Viet Hospital, emphasized that using antibiotics without a doctor's prescription is extremely dangerous. Antibiotics are not the solution to all diseases. Improper use can cause serious complications such as liver failure, kidney failure, and especially antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics are only effective against diseases caused by bacteria, while many common childhood illnesses such as colds and sore throats caused by viruses do not require antibiotics. Using antibiotics on your own not only makes your child's condition worse, but also has a negative impact on their long-term health.

In Vietnam, antibiotic abuse is quite common due to people's lack of knowledge and the ease of purchasing drugs. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, the rate of antibiotic resistance in Vietnam is at an alarming level with many types of bacteria having developed resistance to common antibiotics.

Health experts warn that if this situation is not controlled, we risk running out of effective antibiotics to treat common infections in the future.

Dr. Nhu recommends that you consult your doctor before using any medicine for your child. Parents need to raise awareness and follow the doctor's instructions to protect their children's health.