Many parents insist their child requires antibiotics simply because he/she has a runny nose with yellow or green discharge. Not true. I remember several years 
ago when my daughter was in medical school and doing her pediatric rotation her telling me how much time she spent with irate parents explaining why their child did not need antibiotics and parents insisting they did. She said often times parents would get downright angry when they left the office without a prescription to fill. In all fairness to the parents though if both are working caring for a sick child comes with it’s own set of problems, who takes off work? When can child go back to daycare or school? And it seems logical to them that antibiotics will hurry this yucky green runny nose along, which is not true.
THE FACTS Old prescription habits apparently die hard.
Studies have suggested that most doctors say they would prescribe an antibiotic if a child with sinus symptoms also had green nasal discharge. The habit stems from the notion that green indicates a bacterial infection.
But other studies show that green is no more common in a bacterial infection than a viral one, for which antibiotics are ineffective.
In a definitive study from 1984, scientists put 142 children with green nasal discharge into groups, including one that was treated with antibiotics and another that received a placebo. They found that the drugs had no effect on “potentially pathogenic organisms” or on symptoms. About 35 percent of subjects treated with antibiotics showed improvement, compared with 31 percent in the placebo group. More recent studies have bolstered that conclusion.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when cold viruses infect the respiratory tract, the body makes clear mucus that helps wash away germs from the nose and sinuses. After about three days, the body’s immune cells fight back, changing the discharge to a white or yellow color. “As the bacteria that live in the nose grow back, they may also be found in the mucus, which changes to a greenish color,” the agency says. “This is normal.”
The only time antibiotics are needed for a runny nose, experts say, is when the diagnosis is bacterial sinusitis.
THE BOTTOM LINE The color of nasal discharge should not dictate the medicine.
Really? – The Claim – With a Runny Nose, Green Calls for an Antibiotic – Question – NYTimes.com
Too true. Antibiotics, when used judiciously, can do wonders when the body is overwhelmed but it seems that every time a kid sneezes parents want to stuff them full of antibiotics. They just don’t seem to understand or refuse to understand that all their doing is keeping their child’s immune system from developing correctly (among other things).
Kirk M´s last blog ..Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize | Could you say that again?
So true Kirk in regard to developing a healthy immune system. I honestly think much of this antibiotic frenzy with parents is due in part to the changing family unit now vs: when you and I were growing up. As a nurse I worked with a lot of single Mom’s and it was a BIG deal when they had a sick child and these were women who knew that you don’t treat a virus with antibiotics.
Trying to post this again …
Good article Elaine. Another thing that some parents should realize is that they don’t have to put layers and layers of clothes, a hat and a couple of blankets on their baby/child just to take a short walk outside on a day that is only a little breezy. All this bundling-up will not stop the baby from catching a cold. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve tried to tell this to. Let the kid get some fresh air!
Excellent point Jodi, I’ve seen that too. Goes back to what Kirk said and developing a healthy immune system. I’ve also seen Mom’s who won’t let their child “touch things” that God forbid might have germs. I’ve watched my daughter Sarah with Cora and I love how she allows her to explore. She’s allowed to pick up leaves, pine cones, nuts, worms, anything that will not harm her. Of course she’s already learned when we go back inside we wash hands.
Very informative, Elaine. Antibiotics should not be used across the board, but only as necessary. I hear of many parents who keep their kids on antibiotics, off and on for years! I don’t believe this allows the good bacteria to survive.
Keli´s last blog ..Stupidity and the Gardener Part 1
I remember years and years ago, there was a little girl in another preschool teacher’s class who developed a terrible Green Slime runny nose.
The little girl seemed okay, but her nasal discharge was almost psychedelic lime green.
The teacher suggested that perhaps she should be on antibiotics. (In fairness to the teacher, it *was* pretty bad.) It turned out, after much investigation, that the little girl was allergic to her mom’s perfume.
Mom quit using that fragrance and the green discharge disappeared almost overnight. This was very enlightening for all of us as both teachers and parents.
Keli – on and off for years, I hope there is a good reason for that than the usual cough/cold/snotty nose.
Cilicious – OMG almost gagging here and I am use to green nasty vile stuff from years of working with patients on ventilators. I’ve had it spattered on my face and torso. But psychedelic lime – have never seen that. Poor little girl, I can see why staff was suggesting antibiotics I probably would be too. Curious what led them to Mom’s perfume?
Elaine, I don’t know how they decided that the fragrance was the problem, but I know it was the pediatrician who made the suggestion.
I know what you mean about gagging. Not sure why, but I can handle poop and vomit better than I can deal with large amounts of mucous, especially when it is bright green. I’ve never dealt with ventilators, but I’ve had kids wipe their noses on me!