Yasmina Kattou 7:50 a.m., January 26, 2023
While amoxicillin, this antibiotic for children in particular intended to treat bronchiolitis, is increasingly difficult to find, parents are looking for other alternatives.
Among them, augmentin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and much more powerful.
But is it really effective?
Europe 1 takes stock.
It's been a headache for all parents since December.
Where can I find amoxicillin?
It is very difficult to get your hands on this antibiotic, in particular because of the strong epidemic of bronchiolitis which has emptied the stocks.
And according to the Medicines Agency, it will be complicated until March.
While waiting for a return to normal, health authorities are asking doctors to prescribe other antibiotics.
But are there other alternatives and are they really effective?
Augmentin, an alternative with limits
To treat otitis or bacterial angina, today, the main alternative is augmentin.
But unlike amoxicillin, which only targets the bacteria responsible for the infection, augmentin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and therefore much more powerful.
Consequence: there is a risk of antibiotic resistance, warns Anna Boctor, pediatrician near Nice.
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"When we use an antibiotic that is too strong for a basic infection, it gives rise to bacterial resistance. And suddenly, we escalate in terms of weapons and therefore therapies. And later, we will need particularly powerful antibiotics to treat diseases which previously were easily treated with less powerful antibiotics", insists the pediatrician.
In addition, with stronger treatment, children are more likely to have violent diarrhea, abdominal pain or fungal infections.
So, for all these reasons, Anna Boctor does not prescribe an alternative.
While waiting for the end of supply tensions, the pediatrician recommends that parents ask their pharmacist for a pediatric dosage preparation based on amoxicillin for adults.