Q. Do repeated courses of antibiotics reduce the ability of the immune system to fight future infections? My 5-year old has had several throat infections that seem to return after each antibiotic course has finished.
A. Immune responses aren’t affected by a person being given repeated courses of antibiotics, so they haven’t harmed your son. However, there must be a reason for him having so many infections: discuss him with your doctor. Remember that at 5, he has come into contact for the first time, possibly, with a whole host of new strains of germs at school. This is his peak year for catching throat infections – they will probably lessen over the next year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here