94 Where There Is No Dentist 2012
THE BEST CHOICE
SECOND CHOICE
(for those allergic to penicillin)
Penicillin: 1 tablet = 250 mg
Give enough tablets for 5 to 7 days
First Dose (take all at once)
Adults
and children over 25 kg
Children under 25 kg
4 tablets
(1000 mg)
2 tablets
(500 mg)
Then every 6 hours for 5 to 7 days
Adults
and children over 25 kg
Children under 25 kg
2 tablets
(500 mg)
1 tablet
(250 mg)
Erythromycin: 1 tablet (or capsule) = 250 mg
Give enough tablets for 5 days
First Dose (take all at once)
Adults
and children over 25 kg
Children under 25 kg
4 tablets
(1000 mg)
2 tablets
(500 mg)
Then every 6 hours for 5 days
Adults
and children over 25 kg
Children under 25 kg
2 tablets
(500 mg)
1 tablet
(250 mg)
IMPORTANT: to allow it to best fight infection,
take penicillin before eating.
IMPORTANT: to avoid upset stomach, take
erythromycin with meals.
Note: If you do not have penicillin, use amoxicillin, 3 times a day for 7 days.
Adults and children over 25 kg take 500 mg each dose, and children under
25 kg take 250 mg each dose. To use ampicillin, see Where There Is No
Doctor. People allergic to penicillin will also be allergic to amoxicillin and
ampicillin.
For many infections, taking penicillin for 5 days should be enough. For
serious infections, it may be necessary to take the antibiotics for 7 days.
For however long you take them, always take the double dose the first time,
and then the regular dose 4 times a day (every 6 hours). If the infection does
not heal, you may need a different medicine. Usually you can take out the
tooth 1 or 2 days before the end of the antibiotic treatment, but the person
must continue to take all of the tablets, even after you have taken out
the tooth. If not, the infection might come back even stronger than before.
If the swelling is ‘pointing,’ open it with a sharp sterile knife to release the
pus. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing to keep it clean. If you are not
able to do that, explain how to reduce the swelling with heat. As often as
possible until the swelling goes away:
• soak a cloth in warm water and hold it against the face.
• hold warm water inside the mouth near the swelling. It is not
necessary to add salt to the water.
Finally, give the person medicine for pain. A 2-day supply will be enough,
because the penicillin and the heat will reduce the pressure and that will
reduce the pain. The best medicines for pain are aspirin, which usually comes
in 300 mg tablets, and acetaminophen (paracetamol), which usually comes in
500 mg tablets. Aspirin is usually cheaper, but acetaminophen does not cause
stomach pain and it is safer than aspirin for children. (To avoid stomach pain,
take aspirin with food, milk, or water.) See doses at the top of the next page.