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Antibiotics only work against bacteria and are useless against viruses. The vast majority of sore throats, ear infections, cough and viruses, not bacteria, cause colds. They are among the most potent and important medicines known to mankind. When used properly they can save lives, but used improperly, they can actually harm you. Bacteria and viruses cause infections, and antibiotics can cure only bacterial infections. Common viral infections can never be treated with antibiotics. One recovers from the common viral infections only when the illness has run its course. Unscrupulous medical practitioners often prescribe antibiotics for quick symptomatic relief. Sometimes we inadvertently misuse them when we take them without due medical supervision. Repeated and improper use of antibiotics gives rise to resistant bacteria. These resistant strains of bacteria can also be spread to others. Each time we take antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant ones may be left to grow and multiply. The more antibiotics you take, higher the chance that you will be infected with resistant bacteria. The resistant bacteria cannot be treated with normal antibiotics. Some of them need more powerful medicines and a few of them become untreatable. Antibiotics should be used only when it has been medically determined that they might be effective. They are no cure for most common ailments. 'A cold takes one week to be cured with medicines and seven days to cure itself ' is an old saying. Follow it. Viral infections can sometimes lead to bacterial infections. But treating viral infections with antibiotics to prevent bacterial infections does not work. Yet another very important aspect to be kept in mind is that if an antibiotic is prescribed, ensure that you take the entire course. Always finish a course of antibiotics even if you are feeling better. Never save antibiotics for later use. Never use the antibiotics prescribed for one illness in any other case and never practice self-medication. Bacteria that are responsible for many major and often fatal infections are coming back with a vengeance. They are learning to adapt to our current armoury of antibiotics.
Some bacteria have learned to resist all currently available antibiotics. This has already happened in Japan. They have become the widely talked about "super-bugs". We are all at fault for this terrible mess that we are in today. The problem we are now facing is of our own doing. The problem lies in the fact that the miracle discovery is wrongly believed to be a miracle cure. If this state of affairs continues we may have to spend longer time in hospitals and the only choice may be to use less effective drugs with greater side effects. The worse case scenario is that the condition may even be untreatable. It's true that new and more powerful antibiotics can be developed but this takes time and bacteria are not going to wait around for this to happen. They are quicker than us at keeping one step ahead. It may also cause you unpleasant side effects and leave your body open to far more dangerous infections. Only a concerted effort on our part can ensure that antibiotics remain the valuable treatment they have always been for our families, our future generations, and us. Courtesy: www.safetyforeveryone.com More Articles |
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Do you remember that when you last visited your friendly neighbourhood physician for a running nose of your naughty young one, you wanted him to be fit in double quick time for the school play that was to be held the week after. You wanted your doctor "to do something" for the kid and asked him if an antibiotic would do the trick? The real solution to your kid's problem was and is time.
Penicillin the first and most widely used antibiotics were the most effective treatment for infections caused by bacteria called streptococcus pneumonia - a common cause of ear infections, pneumonia, and sometimes meningitis. However, now in France and Spain for around 50% of these infections penicillin doesn't work.
