COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control urges you to know when antibiotics work because sometimes the best medicine is no medicine.
"That's the topic of DHEC's 'Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work' campaign, which kicks off in Columbia with an event for children and parents during the EdVenture Children’s Museum's after-school program on Oct. 6," said Jerry Gibson, M.D., director of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control. "Special guest, Cecilia Hem Lee, the children’s librarian from The State Library will read The Little Elephant with the Big Earache (http://www.hippocraticpress.com) to the children, and health professionals will be available to answer questions in the 'Get Smart About Antibiotics' booth.
"Misuse and overuse of antibiotics is creating a growing number of bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics," Dr. Gibson said. "That makes bacterial infections harder to treat and sometimes results in what we call "superbugs," or bacteria that do not respond to any treatment.
"A copy of The Little Elephant with the Big Earache is being distributed to every branch of the public library system in South Carolina for parents and children to read on their own," Dr. Gibson said. "There is a parent guide that accompanies each of the books to educate parents about careful antibiotic use. All the libraries will also have educational posters and brochures available.
"Antibiotic resistance has become one of the most pressing public health issues," Dr. Gibson said. "It is important to practice the safe use of antibiotics and to understand when they are not appropriate.
"Everyone, especially parents of young children, need to know that antibiotics kill bacteria," he said. "Antibiotics do not kill viruses such as colds or flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats not caused by strep, or runny noses. Parents often insist that their healthcare provider prescribe antibiotics for viral infections, however treating a viral infection with an antibiotic does not work and it may actually be harmful by placing the child at risk for dangerous side effects. So talk to your healthcare provider about careful antibiotic use."
Gibson said there will be several events throughout the state to raise awareness of those dangers and to teach parents and children how best to use antibiotics. The South Carolina Careful Antibiotic Use (SCCAUSE) campaign is part of the national Get Smart campaign from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, go to the Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/index.htm and http://www.scdhec.gov/health/disease/sccause.
In the Columbia area, the following events are planned.
October 6, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. - Kick-off for "Get Smart About Antibiotics" Week.
Book reading and storytelling from The Little Elephant With the Big Earache for Camp EdVenture participants at EdVenture Children’s Museum. Cecilia Hem Lee, the Children’s Librarian from The State Library will read to the children, and health professionals will be available to answer questions in the booth at EdVenture.
October 6 – 10, 2008 – "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week"
DHEC will have a booth at the EdVenture Children’s Museum with posters and educational materials for parents and children all week long. (Visitors to the booth can register for a free copy of the book.)
October 14, 2008 5 – 8 p.m. – "Family Night" at EdVenture Children’s Museum.
Health professionals will be available to answer questions in the booth at EdVenture. Posters and educational materials for parents and children will be available. Visitors may register for a free copy of the book.
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Note to editors and reporters: The media is invited to attend the EdVenture Oct. 6 event announcing that the "Little Elephant …" books have been given to all 177 branches of the public library system and for a photo-op featuring the storyteller reading to the children.