This is what I think anyway. But this is really the best course of action? The short-term gain over long-term consequences.And there is a gain in the short term to begin with? Antibiotics do not help colds, caused by a virus. Most ear infections clear, just as quickly, without antibiotics. True, bad acne improves with oral antibiotics, but what about the millions of children who take them for a few zits.
Every day see medical problems related to use of antibiotics. Here are five reasons doctors try to restrict their use and why you should think twice yourself before taking one.
1. yeast infection. Often patients are not aware that our body is covered with germs, both inside and out. Skin, mouth, vagina, gut-all have their own population of bacteria. For the most part, these microbes stay where they belong and what is supposed to do. A function of the normal flora (normal population of bacteria) is to hold off the bad guys. There are always some harmful bacteria around, but are usually crowded with good ones. However, taking an antibiotic often kills good bacteria population and enables a Microbe different take over. Most commonly, yeast is the intruder. Once i get the bacteria, yeast, few that linger on the skin, vagina, or colon claim the territory as their own. The overgrowth of yeast often leads to symptoms of vaginal yeast infection or a yeast infection of the skin, usually in hot areas like armpits, groin, or under the breast.
2. Clostridium difficile colitis. Just like the overgrowth of yeast infection can occur and produce when the normal bacteria are killed, so they can have harmful bacteria. Frequently the normal bowel flora is likely to take an antibiotic for a disease. However, clostridium difficile (c. diff) is killed by common antibiotics such as erythromycin or penicillin, sulfa drugs. Some bacteria diff. c. that can harbor in your intestines do not give it until their number remains limited. But when the tall stature, foul-smelling diarrhea occurs, sometimes accompanied by fever, dehydration, or the need for hospitalization. C. diff colitis. requires a different antibiotic to rid the body of this harmful organism.
3. resistance. As already mentioned, some bacteria are already resistant to antibiotics. However, the potential exists for many bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. What happens if penicillin became ineffective for sore throat? In some cases it is already. MRSA (Methicillin resistant staph aureus) is a harmful bacteria that has emerged in recent years due to overuse of antibiotics. If you remember your high school genetics, you may know that when bacteria (or people) is multiplied by the billions, some mutations are inevitable. Microbe population this often means that when you reproduce billions of bacteria, some of the bacteria-daughter inherit a mutation that makes them resistant to antibiotics. Usually these mutated bacteria, though stronger in the sense that we might live through an "attack" of penicillin, are actually weaker in other ways and die a natural death but premature. However, if the entire population of bacteria is subject to a course of antibiotics, weaker bacteria resistant penicillin but can live to repopulate the environment. So the next time that uses the penicillin, it won't work. Doctors see every day of antibiotic resistance. It is a real threat, and at least for now, we don't have new antibiotics on the horizon to use against these resistant bacteria.
4. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Quite apart from killing the normal flora of the body, antibiotics can cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea in themselves. These are chemicals after all, chemicals that the body can reject as foreigners. The class of antibiotic erythromycin is principally known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms, stimulating the natural contractions of the intestine.
5. Allergy Medication. Every patient may be allergic to any medication, and antibiotics are no exception. Though often an antibiotic allergy can manifest itself as a rash, true anaphylaxis may occur with the use of any antibiotic. Anaphlylaxis is an allergic reaction which may include total body hives, nausea, light-headedness, itching, swelling, and trouble breathing, very similar to a bee sting allergy. Any time you believe that you are having a reaction to a medication, call your doctor. If you are having trouble breathing or feel like you might pass out, call 911. This is a medical emergency.
Just write this reminds me to pay attention when prescribing antibiotics to my patients. The next time that the doctor will order a round of penicillin or other antibiotics, ask how much the drug really is necessary. Often they are prescribed for more comfort. If an antibiotic will only get you a day faster, maybe it's better to doing without.