Dr. Rogers explains that there’s really not a cure for a common cold and then lets them know why she’s not giving the child an antibiotic and why no one else should either.

“I understand this mindset,” Dr. Rogers said. “You come to the doctor and you want to be treated. Parents often want an antibiotic. That’s why they are there to see me. They can’t afford to take time off when their child is running a fever and sick. They think the antibiotic will make the illness go away faster.”

But if the cold is viral, it’s simply going to run its course. The antibiotics will not have any impact on the cold at all. With something like a cold, you just have to wait it out.

The American College of Physicians and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree with Dr. Rogers. They have issued new guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in adults.

The two organizations advice to adults is similar to Dr. Rogers’ advice to children: Use antibiotics to treat bacteria that causes the likes of strep throat and food poisoning. For common viruses like the common cold and flu, the recommendation is drink extra water and juice, use a cool mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion.

“It’s not that I’m against antibiotics, but for the right reasons,” Dr. Rogers said. “Pertussis starts with cold-like symptoms, just kind of a mild cough, and after 2 weeks the cough gets much worse. In those cases, not only the patient, but the entire family, will need antibiotics, but once the patient has been infected, expect him or her to have a prolonged cough.

Other times antibiotics may be necessary with illnesses including:

•  Sinusitis or secondary bacterial infections, related to a cold.
• Certain skin conditions caused by bacterial infections, such as impetigo.
• Strep throat
• A severe ear infection

“I really do try very hard to limit my prescriptions of antibiotics for bacterial infections,” Dr. Rogers said. “If your child has an ear infection and it’s red and bulging, as a parent I would want antibiotics to help ease my child’s suffering.”

However, other caregivers aren’t as careful with their prescriptions, Dr. Rogers warns. She said this can cause the medication to not be effective or even useless when a child actually needs antibiotics. The infectious organisms adapt to the antibiotics, leaving the patient immune to the antibiotic.

Antibiotics have played a vital role in treating patients with infectious disease for 70 years, Dr. Rogers said. When prescribed the right way, antibiotics can prevent illness and even death. But when antibiotics are prescribed carelessly, they lose their effect.

“We frequently see patients who have been prescribed antibiotics at the doc-in-the-box type clinics,” Dr. Rogers said. “It sometimes seems to me that they have a mandate that everyone must walk out with a prescription. They often prescribe an antibiotic, steroid or prescription cough medicine regardless if the patient needs it or not. None of that stuff works for a cold. In fact, studies have been done that say it makes your child worse. The antihistamine thickens the secretion, so you can’t get the yucky stuff out. That’s how you get better, by getting the mucus out and resting. When we’re sick, especially children, we need lots of rest.”

Dr. Rogers’ advice is to see your Cook Children’s pediatrician. Other options include a Cook Children’s Urgent Care Center or Neighborhood Clinic. If a doctor prescribes an antibiotic, she says it’s Ok to ask if it’s the right thing to do. If the doctor says it’s bacterial or to stop an infection, then proceed.

“There’s no magic cure for the common cold,” Dr. Rogers said. “And unfortunately, too many prescriptions of antibiotics are zapping the magic out of what was once a miracle drug."

About the source

Audrey Rogers, M.D., is located at 3200 Riverfront Drive, Ste. 103, Fort Worth, TX 76107. To make an appointment with her or one of her partners, call 817-336-3800. Like her on Facebook.Dr. Rogers received her undergraduate degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., her medical degree at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, and completed her pediatrics training at Children's Hospital of Oklahoma. Her special interests are behavioral pediatrics and adolescent medicine. She became board certified in 1989.

As someone who lives with asthma, I’m proof that the condition does not have to slow you down. It’s important for most children to know they can still partake in all of the fun activities of other kids, just as long as they properly take their medicine.

I join about 10 percent of the general population who are asthmatics. Children have an even greater incidence of suffering from asthma, and the prevalence of asthma is increasing in both adults and children.

First let’s define asthma. Asthma is a condition caused by narrowing of the small air tubes in the lungs with inflammation and constriction of the smooth muscle surrounding the small air tubes.

There are many symptoms of asthma, including wheezing, shortness of breath and exercise intolerance. Some people complain of “tightness in their chest.” The symptoms do vary with the severity of the asthma and whether the person is having an asthma attack.

Anyone who has the condition knows about the triggers that can cause an asthma flare. The most important factor is the common cold; viral upper respiratory infections are the most common reason for an asthma attack in both adults and children. Allergies are the second most important trigger but other factors like, exercise and weather changes can cause trouble as well.

To measure whether your child’s asthma is under control, I use the “Rule of Twos.” Your asthma is not under control if:

• You have to use albuterol more than twice a week on average during the daytime, or twice a month on average at night.
• You have to use oral steroids more than twice a year.
• You go through two albuterol puffers a year.
• When your asthma is not under good control, I would either add an inhaled steroid or increase the dose of the inhaled steroid.

Discuss this with your pediatrician and make sure you have an asthma plan. Teach the plan to your children as they grow up to help prevent asthma attacks.

The most effective preventive medication is an inhaled steroid, which comes in both a puffer form and in the nebulizer. This medication needs to be taken on a daily basis to prevent inflammation, which narrows the small air tubes.

All of the research over the past 20-30 years has shown that if asthmatics take their preventive medication regularly their asthma improves. Another helpful measure is avoidance of allergy triggers such as, dust mites and cat dander, which are the two most common allergens in our society.

The mainstay of treatment for an asthma flare is a drug called albuterol. It comes in several forms, but it is mainly used in a “puffer” or metered dose inhaler, or in a solution that is used in a nebulizer.

This medication is a bronchodilator which opens up tight airways. The other commonly used medication is an oral steroid such as, prednisone which decreases inflammation in the small air tubes.

I wouldn’t describe living life with asthma as easy and it does come with challenges. But if you take care of yourself, follow your medication treatment prescribed by your Cook Children’s pediatrician and avoid triggers as best you can, children should be able to live normal and productive lives.

They may even become a pediatrician themselves someday and take care of other kids with asthma.

"My mom used to say, 'When God closes a door, He always opens a window.' I have found that to be true many times in my life. My life as a pediatrician is a result of crawling through an open window when the door I thought I was supposed to walk through was closed to me."

Jason Terk, M.D., Keller, Keller Parkway

"Florinda Peak, the most amazing Mommy in the world, to 5 year old Dr Sandra Peak who did not want to practice reading… 'You have to learn how to read…because when you do the whole world opens up to you!'”

Sandra Peak, M.D., Lewisville

"The best advice my mother ever gave me was to give to others without expecting anything in return. (She also told me to never go outside with wet hair because I’d catch a cold, but medical school later disproved that. Sorry mom.)"

Diane Arnaout, M.D., Willow Park

"The best advice my mother ever gave me was, “never miss the chance to use a perfectly good bathroom” when you are out of the house."

Audrey Rogers, M.D., Fort Worth, Forest Park

Nicole Wineriter, M.D., Keller, HeritageTrace

"My mom told me to respect (be nice) to the nurses because they can either make or break your day."

Samuel Sheng, M.D., Arlington Neighborhood Clinic

"Encourage others. She always wrote notes to people for accomplishments, during sad times and just because."

Justin Smith, M.D., Lewisville

And finally, our favorite advice ...

"Marry Joan."

Tom Rogers, M.D., Forest Park. Dr. Rogers and his wife Joan have been married 59 years and today, she is a proud mother. "Joan worked to pay my way through medical school, gave me two great kids who are both pediatricians, and has allowed me to work without having to pay attention to small things like finances, maintenance of our house and yardwork. I couldn't be where I am today without her," Dr. Rogers said.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Cook Children's ...