Uveitis Eye Inflammation Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
HealthWatch: An Innovative Alternative To Ear Tubes
Green Bay, Wis. (WFRV) – Ear infections are the most common reason for families to visit their pediatricians ever year in the U.S., and one in fifteen children will need ear tubes.
Grafton mother Brienne Nestingen dealt with this first-hand with her son Rhys.
"He just kept getting ear infection after ear infection, so it became an issue," Nestingen said.
Nestingen says Rhys started having recurring ear infections at about four months old.
"He was just generally miserable, and of course when you're miserable you're not sleeping well, and he was tired and he was having to take medicine and antibiotics constantly to help with that," she said.
Rhys's pediatrician recommended the most common solution: Ear tubes, a surgical placement of tubes to keep fluid out of the ears, that requires the child to be put under general anesthesia.
"I just kind of wondered, 'Is that really the only option?' I had a couple of concerns. My biggest was having him, as a baby, under general anesthesia, that was a huge concern for me and my husband. As well as all of the pre-op and post-op things that are included with that," Nestingen recalled.
But Aurora BayCare Medical Center offers an innovative alternative that keeps your child out of the operating room.
After doing some research, Nestingen found Dr. Jon Slezak, an ENT physician at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, who is one of just two providers in the state to offer a non-surgical alternative: the Hummingbird device.
"The difference with this procedure, is that the device we use actually makes the hole at the same time that you deploy the ear tube," Dr. Slezak said. "It's just one maneuver that you do for it, and you do it to the other side and then you're done. So, it takes quite literally about 90 seconds to do the procedure," he said.
After opting for the Hummingbird device route, many of the Nestingen's fears disappeared. And after the procedure with Dr. Slezak, Rhys's life was changed.
"It's much better on a day-to-day basis. When he does get an ear infection, it's not causing him all of the pain and discomfort, the ear infection is a lot easier to manage. He's just overall a happier kid," said Nestingen.
While the Hummingbird procedure isn't a total replacement for ear tubes, Nestingen wants other parents to know that the option is out there for their children.
"Overall, we've just had a wonderful experience with it. I'm glad that we took the time to look into it and see if it was a good fit for him. It was really fast, and it was a really great option to have. I would definitely recommend looking it to see if it's an option for your child," she said.
Rhys hasn't experienced any delays in language development, and his mother says his hearing has improved. To learn more about this quick, safe, and lower-cost option for ear tube placement, visit Aurora BayCare's website.
Bactrim Dosage
Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) is a brand-name drug that's prescribed for certain infections. Bactrim comes as a tablet. The dosage can vary depending on the condition being treated.
Bactrim is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:
Bactrim belongs to a drug class called sulfonamides. Bactrim is available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Bactrim, including its strengths and how to take the medication.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Bactrim provided by the drug's manufacturer. When taking Bactrim, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor. However, your doctor will prescribe the Bactrim dosage that's right for you.
The information below describes Bactrim's typical dosages and other details about the drug.
Bactrim formsBactrim is available as oral tablets.
Bactrim strengthsBactrim comes in two strengths:
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for urinary tract infections (UTIs)Doctors may prescribe Bactrim to treat urinary UTIs.*
If your doctor prescribes Bactrim for your mild to moderate UTI, your dose will likely be one 800 mg/160 mg tablet or two 400 mg/80 mg tablets. Typically, you'll take this every 12 hours for 10–14 days. This is the typical recommended dosage of Bactrim for people with UTIs.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
*Doctors may prescribe the intravenous (IV) form of this medication for severe UTIs. However, the brand-name Bactrim intravenous injection is no longer available in the United States, but generic versions are available. This article focuses on Bactrim and Bactrim DS, which only come as oral tablets. For more information about generic sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim injection, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Dosage for chronic bronchitisBactrim is approved to help treat chronic bronchitis. In this case, the recommended dosage of Bactrim is one 800 mg/160 mg tablet or two 400 mg/80 mg tablets. You'll take this dose every 12 hours for 14 days.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
Dosage for shigellosisBactrim is also approved to help treat shigellosis. In this case, the recommended dose of Bactrim is one 800 mg/160 mg tablet or two 400 mg/80 mg tablets. Typically, you'll take this dose every 12 hours for 5 days.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
Dosage for pneumocystis pneumoniaBactrim is also approved to treat pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Your dose of Bactrim will be based on your body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). The daily dose will likely be 75–100 mg/kg if calculated based on the sulfamethoxazole component of Bactrim and 15–20 mg/kg if based on the trimethoprim component of Bactrim. Your total daily dose will be divided and given every 6–12 hours for 14–21 days.
The table below summarizes dosages of Bactrim when prescribed for PCP:
Bactrim is also approved to help prevent PCP. In this case, the recommended dose of Bactrim is one 800 mg/160 mg tablet daily.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
Dosage for traveler's diarrheaBactrim is also approved to treat traveler's diarrhea. In this case, the recommended dose is one 800 mg/160 mg tablet or two 400 mg/80 mg tablets. Typically, you'll take this every 12 hours for 5 days.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
Children's dosageThe following sections describe Bactrim dosages for treating different conditions in children.
Dosage for urinary tract infections (UTIs)Your child's doctor may prescribe Bactrim to treat UTIs in children* ages 2 months and older.
The recommended daily dose is 40 mg/kg if calculated based on the sulfamethoxazole component of Bactrim and 8 mg/kg if based on the trimethoprim component of Bactrim. Your child's total daily dose will be divided and given every 12 hours for 10 days. This dose comes in an oral tablet and is based on the child's body weight in kilograms. One kg equals about 2.2 lb. The dosage per kilogram is measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and is calculated by your child's doctor.
The table below lists the typical oral dosing for children taking Bactrim:
* Doctors may prescribe an oral suspension (liquid) form of this medication for adults and children who cannot swallow oral tablets. However, the brand-name Bactrim suspension is no longer available, but generic versions are available. This article focuses on Bactrim and Bactrim DS, which only come as oral tablets. For more information about generic sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim oral suspension, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Talk with your child's doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Dosage for acute otitis mediaBactrim is also approved to treat acute otitis media (ear infections) in children ages 2 months and older. The recommended daily dose is 40 mg/kg if calculated based on the sulfamethoxazole component of Bactrim and 8 mg/kg if based on the trimethoprim component of Bactrim. Your total daily dose will be divided and given every 12 hours for 10 days.
The table below lists the typical oral dosing for children taking Bactrim:
Talk with your child's doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Dosage for shigellosisBactrim is also approved to help treat shigellosis in children ages 2 months and older. The recommended daily dose is 40 mg/kg if calculated based on the sulfamethoxazole component of Bactrim and 8 mg/kg if based on the trimethoprim component of Bactrim. Your total daily dose will be divided and given every 12 hours for 5 days.
The table below lists the typical oral dosing for children taking Bactrim:
Talk with your child's doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Dosage for pneumocystis pneumoniaBactrim is also approved to treat PCP in children 2 months and older. Your child's dose of Bactrim will be based on their body weight in kilograms. One kg equals about 2.2 lb. Their daily dose will likely be 75–100 mg/kg if calculated based on the sulfamethoxazole component of Bactrim and 15–20 mg/kg if based on the trimethoprim component of Bactrim. Your child's total daily dose will be divided and given every 6–12 hours for 14–21 days.
The table below summarizes dosages of Bactrim when prescribed for PCP:
Bactrim is also approved to help prevent PCP in children ages 2 months and older. In this case, the dose is calculated based on your child's body surface area. The recommended dose is 750 milligrams per square meter per day (mg/m2/day) if calculated based on the sulfamethoxazole component of Bactrim and 150 mg/m2/day if calculated based on the trimethoprim component. The total dose is then equally divided to be given twice per day for 3 consecutive days per week. The maximum daily dose is 1,600 mg sulfamethoxazole and 320 mg trimethoprim.
The following table outlines the dosage for prevention of PCP in children:
Talk with your child's doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Short-term treatmentBactrim is taken short term for various infections. Doctors prescribe Bactrim for 3–14 days, with the duration depending on the condition being treated and its severity. When prescribed to help prevent PCP, it's taken long term.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long you can expect to take Bactrim.
The Bactrim dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage based on you or your child's weight or the type or severity of the condition being treated.
Your doctor may also need to adjust your dosage if you have kidney disease.
Bactrim comes as an oral tablet.
It may be helpful to take Bactrim around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Bactrim can work effectively.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have questions about how to use Bactrim, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS
Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn't have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you're having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Bactrim in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss a dose of Bactrim, take it as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one. If you're not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you don't miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you'll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It's important that you do not take more Bactrim than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
Effects of an overdoseOverdose effects of Bactrim can include:
If you take more than the recommended amount of BactrimCall your doctor right away if you believe you've taken too much Bactrim. Another option is to call America's Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Bactrim.
Can Bactrim be used for skin infections? If so, what's the dosage?No, Bactrim is not used for skin infections. Bactrim is a brand-name drug that's prescribed for treating or preventing other types of infections.
Because Bactrim isn't used for skin infections, the drug's manufacturer doesn't provide recommended dosages for this use.
However, penicillin is a drug that's approved for skin infections. If you have questions about managing your skin infection, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment options for skin infections.
How long does it take for Bactrim to start working?Bactrim starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won't feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition. Bactrim is a brand-name drug that's prescribed for treating or preventing infections.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Bactrim treatment.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug's manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Bactrim for you, they will prescribe the dosage that's right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Bactrim without your doctor's recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Bactrim that's best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Bactrim. These additional articles might be helpful:
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
What's Going Around: The Link Between The Common Cold And Ear Infections
In this week's segment of 'What's Going Around,' WAAY 31 Morning Anchor Demetria Green called local doctors to find out which ailments are affecting kids the most right now. They said seasonal allergies and the common cold.
They went on to say it is not unusual for kids to develop an ear infection as they are recovering from a cold, upper respiratory infection or a sore throat.
Demetria did some digging and learned that according to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, five out of six kids will get an ear infection before they are three years old.
Researchers say those ear infections are usually caused by bacteria– when fluid builds up behind the eardrum. They say it's typically treated with antibiotics and should clear up within a few days.
Here are a few things to look for:
If your child gets chronic ear infections– such as five or six a year– call your doctor immediately.
To learn more about ear infections, click HERE.
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