Table of Contents

Acknowledgement The Purpose of this guide Hand washing Not All Bugs are Created Equal Use Antibiotics Wisely Fever Cold / Runny Nose Flu (Inuenza) Sore Throat Ear Ache Cough Sinus Infection 5 7 8 9 10 12 15 18 20 22 25 28

Name of the student: Muhra Hamed Ahmad AlZuabi / School: Albateen School 3rd Grade.

Acknowledgment
In 2007 Health Authority Abu Dhabi launched Abu Dhabi Poison Prevention Poster Contest K-5th Grades in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Educational Zone. The contest carried the theme Advocating judicious use of antibiotics and aimed at shedding light on a serious problem that threatens our health and the health of our kids and the new generations that is the irrational use of antibiotics. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use is the principal strategy for combating the emergence of antibiotic resistance, and this is possible through the non-antibiotic strategies described in this booklet. We would like to thank all those students who contributed their beautiful artworks and tried to voice their opinion about this problem. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Abu Dhabi Educational Zone as their assistance made this contest a reality. Special thanks to HA-AD staff who worked hard to nalize this booklet. Finally, thanks to Do Bugs Need Drugs Program Canada for providing us with the educational material of this booklet.

Health Authority- Abu Dhabi. United Arab Emirates

Name of the student: Mariam Muhammed AlSuwaidi / School: Albateen Scientic Private School - 2nd Grade

The Purpose of this guide

To help parents cope with common childhood infections such as colds, u, sore throats, earaches and other respiratory tract infections.

Remember
Hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of respiratory tract infections. Both viruses and bacteria cause respiratory tract infections, but antibiotics only work against bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Use antibiotics wisely to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics

Hand Washing
Hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of respiratory tract infections. 80% of common infections are spread by hands.

When to wash your hands: Before meals Before breastfeeding After using the toilet or helping your child use the toilet After changing diapers After blowing your nose or wiping your childs nose After playing with toys shared with other children

How to wash hands:

Use soap and water. Washing with water alone does not get rid of germs Wet your hands Apply soap. Do not use antibacterial soap Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds (or the time it takes to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) Rinse your hands for 10 seconds Dry your hands with a towel

What you should do:

Expect doctors, dentists, nurses and therapists to wash their hands before they examine you or your child Make sure soap is available in the washroom of your childs school and your workplace Make sure that childcare sites have places for adults and children to wash their hands Use regular soap. Antibacterial soap is not needed because it promotes bacterial resistance Teach by example

Not all Bugs are Created Equal

Both viruses and bacteria cause infections, but antibiotics only work against bacteria.

Viral Infections:
Include colds, u, croup, laryngitis, chest colds (bronchitis) and most sore throats Are more contagious than bacterial infections (If more than one person in the family has the same illness, odds are it is a viral infection.) Can make you just as sick as bacterial infections Usually get better in 4-5 days but it might take as long as three weeks to fully recover Antibiotics do not work against viruses

Bacterial Infections:
Are less common than viral infections Do not spread as easily from one person to another as viral infections Cause infections such as pneumonia and strep throat

Antibiotics do work against most bacteria

Use Antibiotics Wisely

What Is Antibiotic Resistance:
Using antibiotics when they are not needed (for example for colds and u) can lead to antibiotic resistance. Bacteria have antibiotic resistance when they cannot be killed by an antibiotic. Remember, it is the bacteria that are resistant - NOT YOU! Even very healthy people who have never taken antibiotics can become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria from other sources.

What you should do:

Do not expect to get antibiotics for every respiratory tract infection. Most of these infections are caused by viruses and antibiotics will not work. Let your doctor decide if an antibiotic is needed and which antibiotic is best. Be patient when you (or your child) have cold symptoms, cough or a sore throat. Most viral illnesses will take 4 - 5 days before getting better and up to 3 weeks for a full recovery. Always wash your hands after being with someone who is sick. Remind others to wash their hands. Avoid a battle with SUPER RESISTANT BUG. Use antibiotics wisely!

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Name of the student: Omran Ali Hasan / School: Muhammed Bin AlQasem for Basic Education School 3rd Grade

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Fever
What is fever?
Your childs temperature depends on where it is measured.

Method

Your child has fever if his/her body temperature equals or is higher than

Fever
Helps the body ght infection Occurs with most respiratory tract infections Can occur with both viral and bacterial infections

Treatment
Give acetaminophen also known as paracetamol (Adol , Panadol, Tempra, Tylenol , Calpol or generic brands). Do not give ASA (Aspirin). Keep child cool but do not allow your child to shiver. Dress your child in lightweight clothing and keep room temperature about 20 C. Offer cool uids or popsicles to your child every hour when awake.

Tip: When fever is reduced in children with viral infections, they usually feel better. Children with bacterial infections still feel miserable even when their fever is brought down.

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See the doctor if your child has a fever and:

Is less than six months of age Fever lasts more than 48 hours and does not go down when acetaminophen is given. Fever lasts more than 3 days Has a rash Has diarrhea and vomiting Acetaminophen (Adol , Panadol, Tempra, Tylenol , Calpol or generic brands) is recommended to reduce fever and pain in children. Do not give aspirin products (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA, Aspirin) as they can increase the risk of Reyes Syndrome, a serious condition that can damage the liver and brain. It is important to keep these drugs locked in a cupboard that is child proof. Check the package label to nd out how much medication your child needs Do not give children acetaminophen products that are made for adults. Some products for adults and older children may contain too much acetaminophen for a younger child. Consult with the pharmacist or physician to nd out the right dose for your childs weight or age.
Your childs behavior, rather than the fever, is more important for letting you know when to worry. Go to the emergency department if your child has a fever and any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing not caused by a stuffy nose Blue lips Limp or unable to move Hard to wake up, unusually quiet or unresponsive Stiff neck Seems confused Seizure

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Name of the student: Shamma Sageer Muhammed Rashid Almansouri / School: Alkhitm for Basic and Secondary Education School / girls 3rd Grade

Cold / Runny Nose

Colds are caused by viruses. There are about 200 different viruses that cause colds. Children can get 8 - 10 colds per year. Adults get fewer colds because they have built up immunity against some of the viruses. Antibiotics do not work against cold viruses.

Prevention
Wash your hands to prevent spread of viruses. Teach your children to wash their hands. Wash toys that are shared with others.

Symptoms
Runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough and, at the beginning, headache, fever and watery eyes. Fluid from the nose is clear at rst but turns thick yellow or green within 2 - 3 days. This does not mean it is a bacterial infection. Children might have a cough, which is worse at night. A cold usually lasts for 4 - 7 days. It might take as long as three weeks to fully recover.

Treatment
Offer plenty of uids such as water or juice. Warm clear uids such as soup will help the nose to drain. Give acetaminophen for fever (see Fever). Allow your child to get plenty of rest. Use salt-water (saline) nose drops to treat stufness and cough, especially for infants and toddlers (1-3 years). Use commercial salt-water drops or spray or make your own. A decongestant or cough syrup might help symptoms but will not shorten the length of the cold. Note: Decongestants and cough syrup might also contain acetaminophen. Read labels carefully and check with your pharmacist to avoid overdosing. To prevent infecting others, caregivers should wash their hands often.

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See your doctor if. . .

Fever returns or symptoms worsen 5-10 days after rst becoming sick. Yellow or green nasal discharge lasts longer than 10 days.

Salt Water Drops 125 ml (4 oz or half cup) warm water (one quarter) tsp table salt Mix well. Prepare fresh every day. Position child so that head is slightly back. Use a medicine dropper to put 1 - 2 drops in each nostril. Repeat 4 to 5 times per day.

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Name of the student: Hamda Ismail Abdoullah Almansouri / School: Albateen Scientic School 2nd Grade

Flu (Inuenza)
Inuenza or u is caused by a virus. Adults with the u can spread the virus to others for 3-5 days after symptoms begin. Children with the u can spread the virus to others for up to 7 days. The u season usually starts in November or December and ends in April or May. Occasionally the u might lead to pneumonia.

Prevention
Consult with your family doctor to see if a u vaccination is right for you. Wash your hands, especially after you are with someone who is sick. Teach your child about hand washing. Teach your child to cough into a tissue. Throw away used tissues promptly.

Symptoms
Fever / chills Headache Feeling tired / body aches Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Cough / sneezing

Treatment
Offer plenty of uids such as water or juice. Warm clear uids such as soup will help the nose to drain and will relax the airways. Allow your child to get plenty of rest. Keep your child at home for the rst few days of illness to rest and to prevent spread to others. Give acetaminophen for fever, headache and body aches (see Fever).

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See your doctor if. . .

Fever lasts more than 3 days. Child has a fever plus a rash. Child is coughing up green or yellow discharge for more than 10 days.

Go to the emergency department if your child has any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing not caused by a stuffy nose Blue lips Limp or unable to move Hard to wake up, unusually quiet or unresponsive Stiff neck Seems confused Seizure

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Sore Throat
A sore throat often comes with a cold. Most sore throats are caused by viruses. An antibiotic will not help a sore throat caused by a virus. Some sore throats are caused by bacteria called Streptococcus. Strep throat most often occurs during the fall and winter, in children between the ages of 5 and 12. Your doctor cannot tell if a sore throat is strep throat just by looking at it. A throat swab will show whether the sore throat is caused by bacteria or a virus. If the sore throat is part of a cold, it is most likely caused by a virus and a throat swab is not needed. Your doctor might take a throat swab to show whether the sore throat is caused by bacteria or a virus. The test results are usually ready within 48 hours. If the test results are negative, the sore throat is likely caused by a virus. Antibiotics will not work. If the test results are positive, your doctor might decide to prescribe an antibiotic. Other family members do not need to be tested unless they are sick.

Symptoms
Pain in the throat, pain when swallowing Fever Swollen glands in the neck

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Treatment
Offer plenty of uids such as water or juice. Warm clear uids such as soup make the throat feel better. Give acetaminophen for pain and fever (see Fever). For children six years of age and older and adults, throat lozenges may relieve symptoms. Younger children should not be given lozenges because of the danger of choking. For older children and adults, gargling with warm salt water will make the throat feel better. Mix half tsp salt with 250 ml (8 oz or one cup) warm water. Gargle for 10 seconds. Spit out salt water and repeat. May be done 4 - 5 times per day. Your child can go back to normal activity when feeling better.

See your doctor if. . .

If the sore throat continues for 2 - 3 days with no other symptoms of a cold such as watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose.

Go to the emergency department if your child has any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing not caused by a stuffy nose Blue lips Can not swallow

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Ear Ache
A special tube called the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear and the back of the throat. The tube is narrow in young children so it can become blocked, especially with a cold. This blockage can lead to a bacterial infection. Antibiotics might be prescribed for an ear infection, but 70-80% of children who have an ear infection will get better without an antibiotic.

Prevention
Wash your hands frequently and teach your child about hand washing since most ear infections occur after a cold. Avoid exposing your child to second hand smoke. For children with allergies, avoid exposure to irritating substances. Do not give your child a bottle to drink while lying down.

Symptoms:
Fever Ear pain Irritability

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Treatment:
Give acetaminophen for pain and fever (see Fever). Place a warm cloth over the outside of the ear. Antihistamines and decongestants do not help an ear infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics after examination of your childs ears. If your child has had many ear infections within a short period, your doctor may recommend surgery to put tubes in the ears to help the ears to drain. Because of the risk of antibiotic resistance, it is no longer recommended to give antibiotics for prolonged periods to prevent ear infections.

See your doctor if. . .

Your child is less than 6 months of age Your child is between 6 and 24 months of age and is not getting better after 24 hours Your child is over 2 years of age and is not getting better after 3 days Has a loss of balance Has swelling and redness behind the ear.

Go to the emergency department if your child has any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing not caused by a stuffy nose Blue lips Limp or unable to move Hard to wake up, unusually quiet or unresponsive Stiff neck Seems confused Seizure

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Name of the student: Sara Ati Salem Salem / School: AlfateH School 2nd Grade

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Cough
Most coughs in children and adults are caused by viral infections of the respiratory tract. The respiratory tract looks like an upside down tree. Infections of the respiratory tract are named according to the part that is affected. Antibiotics do not help coughs caused by viruses. Occasionally a cough might be due to pneumonia. In this case antibiotics are usually given.

Illness

Site

Age Group

Cause

*Refers to individuals with otherwise healthy lungs

Symptoms Fever, cough and chest pain. Coughing up mucus that may be yellow or green. This does not mean it is a bacterial infection. Wheezing might occur in some children. Note: With viral bronchitis, 45% of people still cough after 2 weeks. 25% of people still cough after 3 weeks.

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Treatment
Offer plenty of uids such as water or juice. Warm clear uids such as soup will help relax the airways. Allow your child to get plenty of rest. Use a cool mist humidier. Cough suppressants and decongestants may help older children and adults but should be used with caution in younger children. Ask your pharmacist for help in selecting the right medication. Cough drops may help older children and adults. Cough drops should not be given to children less than six years of age because of the risk of choking. For pneumonia, a chest x-ray is recommended and antibiotics are usually prescribed.

See your doctor if. . .

Fever lasts more than 3 days Cough is associated with vomiting Your child is very ill (especially after 2-3 days) and does not want to eat or drink

Go to the emergency department if your child has any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing not caused by a stuffy nose Blue lips Limp or unable to move Hard to wake up, unusually quiet or unresponsive Stiff neck Seems confused Seizure

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Name of the student: Khalid Muhammed Saeed / School: Muhammed Bin AlQasem for Basic Education School 3rd Grade

Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)

The sinuses are air lled spaces around the nose and eyes. Sinusitis occurs when uid builds up in the sinuses. Both bacteria and viruses can cause sinusitis (viruses are up to 200 times more common). Sinusitis most often occurs after a cold but most colds do not lead to bacterial sinusitis. The symptoms of sinusitis are more severe and last longer than a cold.

Symptoms Facial pain or pressure, headache, toothache, feeling tired, cough, fever. Blocked nose with yellow or green nasal discharge that lasts for more than 10 days.

Treatment Give acetaminophen for pain and fever (see Fever). Use salt water drops or spray to help relieve nasal congestion (see Cold). Decongestants can relieve stufness but will not shorten the length of the illness. Use a cool mist humidier.

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See your doctor if. . . Fever develops again, 5 - 7 days after a cold begins. Cold symptoms worsen, 5 - 7 days after the cold begins. Yellow or green nasal discharge lasts longer than 10 days. Constant facial pain Note: Cold symptoms that reoccur and are associated with a clear discharge, indicate a new cold, not sinusitis. A visit to the doctor is not needed - follow treatment for a cold.

Go to the emergency department if your child has any of the following symptoms: Fever and swelling around and above the eyes Trouble breathing not caused by a stuffy nose Blue lips Limp or unable to move Hard to wake up, unusually quiet or unresponsive Stiff neck Seems confused Seizure

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The mention of specic companies or of certain manufacturers products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by Health Authority Abu Dhabi in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

Do Bugs Need Drugs? is a community education program about the wise use of antibiotics. The Parent Guide was developed in partnership with Capital Health, the Toward Optimized Practice program of the Alberta Medical Association, the Alberta Lung Association, and the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Do Bugs Need Drugs? is funded - in Canada - by Alberta Health and Wellness and the British Columbia Ministry of Health. CANADA www.dobugsneeddrugs.org

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Our Vision The Health System of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is comprehensive; encompassing the full spectrum of health services and is accessible to all residents of Abu Dhabi. The system is driven towards excellence through continuous improvement, and monitored for achievement of targets. Providers of health services are independent, predominately private and follow highest international quality standards. The system is nanced through mandatory health insurance. Our Mission Ensure reliable excellence in healthcare for the community Our Values 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Commitment to the Community We Serve Pursuit of Excellence and Continuous Improvement Respect & Compassion Integrity Accountability Collective Wisdom of Teamwork & Collaboration

Contact Us Health Authority Abu Dhabi Health System Compliance Division Tel: 800800 Fax: +9712-4449822 P.O. Box 5674 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Website : www.haad.ae Did you nd this booklet useful? Let us know your feedback. E-mail us at : awareness-compliance@haad.ae

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