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Symptom Checker

When Antibiotics Help

Antibiotics are medicines that treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing bacteria or stopping them from multiplying.

Bacterial infections such as strep throat, some ear infections, urinary tract infections and certain skin infections may need antibiotics. Viruses cause colds, flu and many other childhood illnesses, and antibiotics do not treat viral infections.

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Where this comes from

The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes the guidance behind this page and keeps it current. Their Symptom Checker carries a question-by-question tool for individual symptoms, and it covers this subject as background rather than as a set of questions to work through.

Open the AAP Symptom Checker

When to see a doctor

Contact your pediatrician or another healthcare professional if:

  • Your child has symptoms that may need testing for a bacterial infection.
  • An illness is not improving as expected or becomes worse after initial improvement.
  • Your child was prescribed an antibiotic and is not improving as expected.
  • You have questions about whether an antibiotic is necessary.

Call 911 or get emergency care if:

  • Your child has a life-threatening symptom from the illness or a severe allergic reaction to medication.

Talk to a nurse now, at any hour

When can my child be seen

Be seen today.

Every office keeps same-day appointments for illness and injury.

This evening or at the weekend.

Most offices run After Hours Care, by appointment rather than walk-in.

If you are worried, call. We would rather answer a question that turns out to be nothing.

More on fever and infection

See the rest of this group and all 164 symptoms