Can I give an antibiotic prescribed for travel (diarrhea) to my son for another condition (cough, fever)?

Question

We are currently on a trip, my son is 7 years old and his fever started on the first day of the trip, which suggests that he caught something at school before leaving. I would like to add that the antibiotic I have is azithromycin prescribed for 1-3 days at a dose of 5.7 ml (227 mg). The bottle appears to be 900 mg.

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, I recommend that you do not use this antibiotic in this situation, no. In fact, azithromycin is a very poor choice of antibiotic for almost all infections that children get. In addition, this antibiotic increases the risk of developing antibiotic resistance in your child. If the child has had a fever for more than 3 days now, it is best to go see a doctor who will determine the cause of the infection and prescribe the right antibiotic based on the cause. Happy travels!" Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist