Does My child Need an Antibiotic for Their Green Mucus?

Oh no, green mucus!

One of the things I hear frequently from parents is “My child’s mucus is green. They need an antibiotic”. It is understandable that a parent or caregiver wants to do everything they can to help their child feel better. However, having green mucus does not always mean someone needs an antibiotic. During a viral infection, like a common cold, it is typical for the mucus to change from clear to yellow to green. This is a normal part of clearing a viral infection. Colds will improve on their own in 1-3 weeks. Antibiotics never help a viral infection. They only help bacterial infections.

So when should I be worried about green mucus?

Call your pediatrician if:
- your child has had fever over 101F for 5 days or fever over 103F
- symptoms last longer than 10 days and are not improving
- symptoms worsen after 4-5 days
- there is wheezing, shortness of breath or any breathing issues
- your baby is younger than 1 year old and sick, especially if they are under 2 months old
- your child has face pain, headache, or chills which may indicate a sinus infection

If you have any concerns about your child do not hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician or if you are in California you can schedule an appointment with BeachHousePediatrics.com. We are here to help.