 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
|
Antibiotics: Much ado about something |
||||||
|
||||||
|
A runny nose. A cough. A fever. It's that first cold of the season. But don't ask your family physician for an antibiotic. It won't help - and it might even hurt. Here's why. If you think you need an antibiotic every time you or your child suffers the sniffles, think again. Colds and most sore throats, along with influenza (the flu) and other viral infections, don't respond to the germ-killing properties of these powerful drugs. Instead, the illness needs to run its course as the immune system does its healing work. Then when should you use antibiotics? Below is a primer on these wonder drugs and bacterial infections (such as strep throat and bladder infections) that they target. Viral vs. bacterial: Making sense of differences Most diseases infect our bodies via microorganisms, tiny critters we call "germs." You're probably familiar with bacteria and viruses, two of the more famous microbial groups. Since they cause many familiar diseases, it's easy to confuse them. But viruses and bacteria are different in their size, structure and method of reproduction, not to mention the ways in which they're treated. While doctors have safe and effective vaccines to immunize against many viruses, they don't have safe and effective treatments to cure or treat most of them. Penicillin opened doors Not so with bacterial infections. Penicillin's debut in 1944 ushered in a new era of life-saving treatments for many infections. Today, antibiotics are among the most prescribed drugs in the world, either killing off bacteria outright or preventing them from multiplying. Natural penicillins have been supplanted by synthetic ones and other antibiotics, classified according to their chemical composition and how they work. Chances are you're already familiar with "amoxicillin," "erythromycin" or "ciprofl oxacin." But your family physician has a lot of options to tailor treatment for minor and major infections alike. |
Downsides of a very upside drug Miraculous? Yes. But antibiotics aren't without problems - drug resistance being the major one. Widespread use and misuse in people and farm animals over time have jeopardized antibiotics' efficacy. Today, virtually all bacteria show some ability to outwit these drugs, so much so that more recently developed antibiotics are now sometimes necessary to stop infections once easily cured. Antibiotics can also lead to complications, such as diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections. So the next time you want an antibiotic to ward off a cold, ask how to handle the symptoms instead. Don't be surprised if your doctor suggests "watchful waiting" to see if your symptoms eventually merit a prescription. If you're taking an antibiotic, follow instructions. Your dosage has been calculated to kill bacteria through the course of the illness. If you don't finish, you risk leaving enough microbes in your system to restart the infection - even after you're feeling good. The leftover medicine won't be enough to kill off the bugs the next time, and it may even make them resistant. One final word The best way to curb the spread of resistant bacteria is to avoid getting sick in the first place. How can you best avoid sickness? Washing your hands is the most effective step you can take to prevent transmitting disease. So scrub vigorously with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds (or until you've recited your A-B-Cs), then rinse thoroughly. You'll be doing your part for prevention. Toni Lapp is a writer who lives in Prairie Village, Kan.
|
|||||
