When to drink antibiotics, and when not to

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics - are drugs that kill bacteria. The first antibiotic - penicillin - mold fungus isolated from Alexander Fleming in 1928. By the beginning of the 1940s penicillin learned into practiceAbout Bacteria & Antibiotics.

Since then we discovered and synthesized a variety of classes of antibiotics.

How do they differ from antiseptics and antimicrobials?

Antimicrobial agents - is a broader concept that includes everything that kills microorganisms, that is, and viruses and bacteria, and fungi, and protozoa.

Antiseptics - are drugs that kill microorganisms on surfaces, for example on the table, on the skin of hands.

Antibiotics are effective only on the bacteria and work inside the body, where the antiseptics not reach. In a narrow sense refers only to the antibiotic drugs, which are naturally occurring or are similar to the natural.

How do they work?

The goal of antibiotic - to penetrate into the body, to cling to bacteria and either destroy it or do not give it to multiplyHow do antibiotics work?: Then she will die, and the new appears.

To do this, antibiotics are the target. Typically, a protein, an enzyme or a part of DNA of a bacterium. Acting on the target antibiotic breaking processes occurring in the microorganism. This is a very simplified description.

Each antibiotic has its own target and mechanism of action, therefore, different drugs are used for different pathogens. There is also a broad-spectrum antibiotics: they kill many types of bacteria immediately.

Why antibiotics kill bacteria, but leave us alone?

This is not quite true. There are antibiotics that can harm humans, but for obvious reasons, do not use them.

As drugs selected substances which precisely strike the target bacteria and do not affect our cells.

When it is necessary to drink antibiotics?

Antibiotics are only effective if the infection that you get sick, caused by bacteria. For example, the flu we are ill because of a virus. The usual "cold" - is also the result of the virus.

Therefore, influenza and SARS are not treated with antibiotics.

Viruses are attacking not only the upper airways (ie nose and throat), but also to the bronchi, lungs, intestines (rotavirus and enterovirus), mucous membranes of other organs, the skin (herpes, chickenpox, measles) And even the brain (such as tick-borne encephalitis). In all these cases, antibiotics are ineffective.

The antibiotics are dangerous?

We found the side effects of antibioticsAntibiotics - Side effects. The most common:

1. Nausea.
2. Diarrhea.
3. Abdominal pain.
4. Dizziness.
5. Allergic reactions.

This is a general list, but a lot of antibiotics, and each has its own peculiarities reception. For example, some groups of antimicrobial drugs should not be given to children and pregnant women. Some pills have to drink three times a day, while others - only once. Some antibiotics are used only before eating and do not mix with milk, some - after a meal and mixed with anything. So be sure to read the instructions and consult a physician before you buy the medication.

Do I have to after antibiotics to restore immunity and liver?

No, it does not. No special measures for the salvation of the body after exposure to antibiotics should not be taken. Using a simple, healthy way of life to recover from the disease, because of which had to drink and drugs. Neither immunomodulators (means to enhance immunity) or gepatoprotektory (agents that protect the liver) have no proven benefit.

Can a bacterial infection to pass without antibiotics?

Yes maybe. If our immune system could not cope with the bacteria, mankind would have lost the battle for survival. Many bacterial infections do not require antibiotic therapy, if held in the form of light. For example, bronchitis, sinusitis, otitis can pass themselvesAppropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Adults.

Antibiotics definitely needAntibiotics if a:

1. Without them, the infection does not take place and become chronic.
2. A sick person can infect other people.
3. Antibiotics will significantly accelerate and facilitate recovery.
4. complications can develop without them.

How to drink antibiotics?

Strictly on doctor's orders and instructions.

Optimally pass tests to determine what exactly is a microbe to cause disease and which antibiotic is effective against himWhen & How to take Antibiotics.

It is impossible to independently appoint a antibiotic, because:

1. We can make a mistake and confuse bacterial infection with a virus.
2. We can buy an antibiotic that will not work specifically with the bacteria that attacked us.
3. We can properly calculate the dose.
4. Due to the fact that we eat too much antibiotics, bacteria are becoming resistant to medicines.

What does it mean?

This means that the bacteria mutate and new generations are no longer afraid of antibiotics.

Bacteria - small and rather simple organisms, they are short-lived and are changing rapidly, so have time to adapt to the new conditions for them.

The more antibiotics we use, the more creative and become stronger germs.

In hospitals, for example, live the neubivaemye bacteria that have learned to survive after all the treatments in the quest for sterility. Agriculture - another area where antibiotics are used in large quantities, although it is better than to distribute infected products.

This is dangerous?

Yes very. Already, doctors are now faced with the disease that caused the germs that are resistant to all antibioticsGrowth sustainability of gonorrhea to antibiotics, new drugs are needed. They are called superbugs. For example, drug-resistant tuberculosis is already die each year about 250 000 peopleThe WHO report confirms that the world's developed enough antibiotics. And there are more resistant staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and many other infections, from which all else fails.

And what do we do?

Several options:

1. To invent new antibiotics. The arms race continues with microbes, pharmacists find new substances capable of destroying bacteria. These drugs are much more expensive, still not investigated, and sooner or later, the bacteria developed resistance to them.
2. To seek new forms of struggle with the microbes. For example, to develop a line of bacteriophages - viruses that are harmless to humans but dangerous for bacteria. While bacteriophages - funds with unproven effectivenessBacteriophages - the enemies of our enemiesBut maybe the scientists succeed with them.
3. To connect common sense when it comes to antibiotics, and do not assume that they will save all ills.

As the antibiotics, so as not to make things worse?

There are some principles which need to be treated:

1. Do not take antibiotics without a prescription, so as not to "train" the bacteria in the fight against drugs. For the same reason, can not be delayed antibiotics in the first aid kit to drink up later on, or advise others antibiotics that have helped you.
2. Do not ask for antibiotics if the doctor thinks that they are not needed. This at least means that you can not drink antibiotics for viruses. That is, until the appointment of antimicrobial agents is desirable to pass tests and make sure that no such medicine is indispensable. There are situations when tests do not have time, but it's pretty severe cases, and they are rarely treated without consulting a doctor.
3. Do not throw treatment early. Antibiotics do not act immediately, for their work takes time. But the patient will feel much better when antibiotics work and will only destroy some of the bacteria. If you stop the treatment as soon as they feel better, then the body can remain microbes, with the most stable.

Recently, however, scientists have concluded that the courses of antibiotics may be shorter than we are accustomed to, and the World Health Organization recommendation updatesHow to stop the spread of antibiotic resistance? WHO recommendations.

See also:

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