| If you believe you need to take an antibiotic every time you or your kid has a fever, think again. Colds and most sore throats, as well as influenza and other viral infections, do not respond to the germ-killing properties of these very powerful medicines. Instead, the sickness should run its course, because the immune system functions as a healer.
So when to take antibiotics? Below is a primer on these wonder medications and the bacterial infections that they target.
Viral vs. Bacterial
Most diseases infect our bodies via microbes. Viruses and bacteria differ in size, structure and method of reproduction, not to mention the ways in which they are treated. While doctors have safe and efficient vaccines to protect us from many viruses, they do not have secure and effective medications to cure or treat most of them.
Penicillin opened doors
Penicillin was first heard of in 1944. Nowadays, antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide, either combating microbes cleary and completely or impeding their reproduction.
Disadvantage of a very upside drug
Antibiotics can cause more harm than good, when they are not used in the correct way. General use and misuse in the ill over time have jeopardized antibiotics' ability to fight off microbes. These days, nearly all bacteria show some resistance to these medications, so that more recently developed antibiotics are sometimes necessary to stop infections once easily treated. Antibiotics can also bright about complications, such as vaginal yeast infections and diarrhea.
So the next time you want an antibiotic to stave off a cold, ask your GP how to manage the symptoms instead. Do not be surprised when your family doctor has suggested 'watchful waiting' to see if symptoms finally merit a prescription.
When taking antibiotics, keep to instructions. Your dose has been calculated to fight off germs throughout the course of the sickness. Thus, if you do not finish, you may find yourself at the risk of leaving enough bacteria in your body to restart the infection - even after you are feeling good. The remaining medication will be insufficient to kill the bugs the next time, and it may even make them resistant to antibiotics.
The most suitable method to diminish the risk of antibiotic resistance is, first and foremost, to avoid catching a cold.
Keeping your hands clean is the most effective preventive measure you can take to prevent contracting diseases. So scrub vigorously with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds, then rinse properly. You will be doing your essential part for prevention. |
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