Antibiotics

A great number of infections could not be treated by simple medicines. Some diseases, including life-threatening ones, may only be treated by antibiotics, strong medicines. The problem is that very often, the wrong usage of antibiotics may cause much harm. That is why, it's important to have some information about these medicines.

In fact, antibiotics may be used only in cases of infections, which are caused by bacteria, fungus, and several types of parasites. At the same time antibiotics don't cure diseases caused by viruses. Very often people, having lack of knowledge, use antibiotics while treating colds or the flu, which may bring much harm.

The work of antibiotics is rather simple – they kill bacteria or just prevent from its growing. But a great number of bacteria are resistant to some kinds of antibiotics, i.e. these antibiotics could not cure the disease. This may happen when antibiotics are taken too often or incorrectly.

In such cases, when bacteria are resistant to specific antibiotics, a person may be recommended to go into treatment to a hospital, where medicines would be given intravenously. But still, there are several types of bacteria, which are untreatable.

So, it's really necessary to know the information above and remember that antibiotics do not cure every illness. If you have a cold or the flu, it's better to let them run their course that usually lasts 2 weeks. When in 2 weeks you still feel unwell, consult your doctor, who'll recommend how to ease the symptoms while your body eventually fights off the virus.

Here we give examples of some illnesses, which are (because of lack of knowledge) often cured with antibiotics:

1) Colds and the flu (can't be treated with antibiotics, because they are caused by viruses).

2) Cough, bronchitis (in most cases they are caused by viruses, but still sometimes – in the cases when you have problems with the lungs or the illness lasts too long – the cause could be bacteria. Then consult your doctor, who would prescribe you the necessary antibiotics).

3) Sore throat is one more illness that could not be cured with antibiotics, because it's caused usually by viruses. Strep throat does not belong here, because it is caused by bacteria and could be cured with antibiotics.

4) Ear infections are as well could be caused by both viruses and bacteria, that is why it's important for your doctor to determine and prescribe the necessary treatment.

5) People often use antibiotics to cure sinus infections. But, in fact, these infections can also be cured without them.

The other thing which you should remember, if you've been prescribed to take antibiotics, is that you shouldn't interrupt the course. That means if your doctor has told you to take a certain amount of medicines, you should do that by all means even if you feel much better. In such a way you prevent the possibility of your body to become resistant to the antibiotic you take in.