by F.M. Leith

Created on: November 05, 2008

Do I need an antibiotic?

First, let me admit that I'm not a medical professional. All the information I have here is information that is easily obtained through a doctor's office or on the web through reputable trustworthy sites such as www.cdc.gov, www.nih.gov, and www.mayoclinic.com. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, be sure to read all the patient information and follow the directions carefully.

The main thing to keep in mind regarding antibiotics is that they kill bacteria not viruses. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. Many types of bacteria are harmless. Some bacteria are necessary in the processes of fermentation, which allows us to have such treats as cheese, bread, yogurt, sauerkraut, and beer. Still other types of bacteria are necessary in sewage treatment, and the making of antibiotics. Other types of bacteria are harmful and cause infectious diseases such as anthrax, leprosy, syphilis, and strep infections. Respiratory infections such as tuberculosis and MRSA are also bacterial.

Antibiotics do not treat viral conditions, such as bronchitis, colds, flu, some ear infections, and sore throats that are not due to strep infections. When an antibiotic is given and it fails to kill all of the bacteria, the bacteria can become resistant to that antibiotic. Then, the next time we're sick, the antibiotic doesn't work. For example, I went on an antibiotic for an illness, only to have the problem recur within a week after finishing the course of antibiotics. The doctor told me that it must have been a stubborn bug (antibiotic resistant). I then had to go on a longer and stronger course of antibiotics. The symptoms of the bug went away early into the second course and it was very tempting to just quit taking it as soon as I felt better. Knowing better, I read and followed the directions, which read, "finish all this medication even if you feel better". This leads me to a few things to remember when taking antibiotics:

Don't save old antibiotics. The leftovers will just be tempting for you to self-treat something that you're not qualified to treat.

Take all of the medicine. Just because you feel better doesn't mean all the bacteria have been killed. The sensitive ones probably have, but the stronger ones may be hanging on.

Don't take someone else's medication. That medication wasn't prescribed for your illness, may be old, and may not be an appropriate choice for your health history.

Let your doctor be the doctor. Don't pressure him or her to prescribe what you think will help you. The doctor will let you know if you need an antibiotic. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic and you don't feel that you actually need one, ask questions about it.

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