What are antibiotics for?
Antibiotics are usually used to
treat infections caused by bacteria.
They do not work against other
organisms such as viruses or fungi.
It's important to bear this in mind
if you think you have some sort of
infection, because many common
illnesses, particularly of the upper
respiratory tract such as the common
cold and sore throats, are usually
caused by viruses. Overuse of
antibiotics can lead to bacteria
becoming resistant to them so it's
important to only take them when
necessary.
Although they will always see you,
the doctors at Shakespeare Surgery
do not routinely prescribe
antibiotics for coughs and colds.
When you are ill, the doctors are
skilled at checking you over to rule
out serious illness, and to advise
if an antibiotic is needed
The following articles give more
information about antibiotics and
explain why the doctors at
Shakespeare Surgery do not have a
policy of prescribing antibiotics on
demand for many common ailments.
Why No Antibiotic?1
Many common infections are caused by
viruses. Antibiotics do not kill
viruses. Also, many bacterial
infections do not need antibiotics.
This is why antibiotics are not
prescribed for many infections.
- Virus
infections
Many common infections of the
nose, throat, sinuses, ears, and
chest are caused by viruses.
Flu-like illnesses are also
caused by viruses.
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting are
often due to a virus infection
of the gut. If you are normally
well, your immune (defence)
system is good at fighting off
many types of virus infection.
An antibiotic is not needed if a
virus is causing an infection.
This is because:
• Antibiotics do not kill
viruses. Antibiotics only kill
bacteria.
• Antibiotics may cause
side-effects such as diarrhoea,
rashes, feeling sick, etc.
• Overuse of antibiotics when
they have not been necessary has
led to some bacteria becoming
resistant to them. This means
that some antibiotics might not
be as effective when they are
really needed.
You may feel unwell for several
days or more until a virus
infection clears. Treatment aims
to ease symptoms. Treatments
that are commonly advised for
virus infections include the
following.
• Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, or
Aspirin to reduce a high
temperature (fever)and to ease
aches, pains, and headaches.
(Children under 16 should not
take aspirin.)
• Have lots to drink to prevent
mild dehydration. Dehydration
may develop if you have a high
temperature, and it can make a
headache and tiredness much
worse.
• Do not wrap up, but try to
cool down if you have a high
temperature. This is
particularly important in
children. If a child has a high
temperature, then take their
clothes off (in a warm, but not
hot, room) and give paracetamol
or ibuprofen.
• Other advice may be given for
specific symptoms. For example,
decongestants for a blocked
nose, etc. Ask a pharmacist for
advice.
What about bacterial
infections?
The immune system can clear most
bacterial infections. For
example, antibiotics usually do
little to speed up recovery of
bronchitis, or most ear, nose,
and throat infections that are
caused by bacteria. However, you
do need antibiotics if you have
certain serious infections
caused by bacteria such as
meningitis or pneumonia. When
you are ill, doctors are skilled
at checking you over to rule out
serious illness, and to advise
if an antibiotic is needed.
What if symptoms change?
Occasionally, a virus infection
or minor bacterial infection
develops into a more serious
infection. See a doctor to
review the situation if the
illness appears to change,
becomes worse, does not go after
a few days, or if you are
worried about any new symptom
that develops.
BREAKING NEWS:
Antibiotics linked to huge rise in
allergies2
Click here to read
the full article
New evidence is emerging to support
the belief that the increasing use
of antibiotics to treat disease may
be responsible for the rising rates
of asthma and allergies.
By upsetting the body's normal
balance of gut microbes, antibiotics
may prevent our immune system from
distinguishing between harmless
chemicals and real attacks.
Asthma has increased by around 160
per cent globally in the last 20
years. Currently about a quarter of
schoolchildren in the US and a third
of those in the UK have the
condition, but pinning down the
causes of the rise has proved
difficult.
Some researchers have blamed modern
dust-free homes, while others have
pointed to diet.
Antibiotics have been implicated by
some epidemiological studies. For
example, the rise in allergies and
asthma has tracked widespread
antibiotic use. Furthermore,
research in Berlin, Germany, has
found that both antibiotic treatment
and asthma were low in the east
compared to the west when the Berlin
Wall came down.
As antibiotic use has increased in
the east though, so has asthma. This
study is particularly valuable
because the politically divided
populations were genetically very
similar and enjoyed much the same
menu.
The findings reinforce the message
that antibiotics should be used only
when absolutely necessary. There is
also a suggestion that patients who
have just finished antibiotic
treatment would benefit from
consuming "probiotic" foods which
contain "good" gut bacteria. Eating
foods such as raw fruit and
vegetables also helps to restore the
natural balance in our guts.
References:
1. © EMIS and PIP 2004 Updated: July
2004 Review Date: August 2005 CHIQ
Accredited PRODIGY Validated
2.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn5047
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