How long do antibiotics usually take to start working?

Question

My daughter, who is 7 months old, was prescribed amoxicillin yesterday for a chest infection. I forgot to ask doc how long it would take before she was better. Anyone know from experience?

Answer 1

Usually three days, but you may see a difference in 24-36 hours. Whatever, it is best to take ALL of the medicine, as a temporary relief may not be enough to battle the entire infection. Be careful though, antibiotics also kill the "good" bacteria found in the colon, so she may get diarrhea. Make sure she is hydrated and contact the doctor if there is anything unusual.

Answer 2

Depends on the child, how her immune system is, etc, but generally you should see an improvement very soon. The important thing, and this is vital, that you always finish the course the doctor proscribed. The whole bottle must be finished. If the label states take 3 times a day, do this until the entire bottle is finished. Even if she seems so much better. The proscription takes into account the germ, the age of your daughter, her approximate weight. The bacteria will come back if the entire dose isn't finished. This is why so many young children develop secondary illnesses, like a chest infection, ear infections, kidney infections, because parents feel safe when their child is showing a great improvement. Don't be fooled by her recovery, finish giving her the amount in the bottle.

Answer 3

Follow the instructions on the bottle! In general, if you take the full course of antibiotics then your wee daughter should be better.

The best advice and assistance can often be obtained from your local pharmacy who can offer such things as Calpol, Vicks Vapour Rub and Benylin Cough Mixture which can help ease your child's symptoms until the antibiotics take full affect.

Only good mum's like you would bother to ask a question like this here! So keep being a good nurse!

Answer 4

Antibiotics usually start working, and by working I mean you should see improvement in 24-48 hours. However, just because you see improvement never discontinue use of the antibiotics. Always finish the amount the physician prescribed for you or your child as they continue to work even after the supply is gone.

Answer 5

If it doesn't work within two days, you should call the doctor. I once had an experience of waiting and waiting for the antibiotics to work, and my child just got sicker. When I took him back the doctor explained that the bacteria sometimes have a resistance against the antibiotics, so he described something else which immediately helped. Good luck, she'll soon be fine!

Answer 6

It might be different for a chest infection, but it took 2 days for me to signifigantly recover from a throat infection after taking antibiotics, and completely fixed in 3 days. It started to improve within 6 hours of taking the tablet.

Answer 7

It usually takes between 24-48 hours for the antibiotics to get into your system. In all around 4-5 days you should see the effect. Hope shes feeling better soon, its awful when the young ones are ill they cant tell us how they feel. x

Answer 8

They start working as soon as you take them but you don't start feeling better until sometime after 24 hrs. Kids your daughters age don't usually even know they are sick. You feel worse than they do out of sympathy. She should show real signs of improvement in two or three days.

Answer 9

If this is a viral infection, the antibiotics are completely ineffective and should not have been given. If it is a sensitive bacteria, unlikely, 36 hour should show improvement.

Answer 10

it takes about 24-48 hours for medicine to kick in and should start noticing improvement in 4 days