by LouAnn Moss
An antibiotic is a kind of metabolic chemical agent against micro-organisms. It’s the most significant kind of bacterial agent for the treatment and preventative of infections, and antibiotics are widely utilized in both the acute and chronic treatment of these infections. They can either inhibit or kill the development of harmful bacteria. These bacteria develop resistance to the antibiotics over time due to the natural tendency of the beneficial (non-resistant) bacteria to dominate the micro-organisms. Hence, when treatment with antibiotics is done often, it leads to the over-growth of these bacteria that causes infections.
The major side-effects of using antibiotics is the creation of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria that are increasingly difficult to control. Some of the common antibiotics’ side-effects include diarrhea, vomiting, sensitivity to sunlight, stomach cramps, hair loss, nausea, chills, tiredness, and in some cases, even death. Some patients taking antibiotics for an extended period of time develop a critical side effect known as antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance can be cured only with the help of special antibiotics, which are very expensive and do not come without their side-effects.
If you’re taking antibiotics for ear infections and are still experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms then it is highly recommended that you stop taking them immediately. Doing so will not only save you from getting better but it will also ensure that you don’t infect yourself again with the bacteria causing ear infections. One of the best ways to get better fast is by boosting up the immune system through natural means like taking vitamin supplements. Vitamin B 12 supplements and fish oil capsules are great options, as they contain highly potent and effective immune-boosting nutrients that can help you get better fast.
It is generally agreed that antibiotics can only eradicate bacteria not viruses or fungi. This is because antibiotics cannot distinguish between good (friendly) bacteria and bad (infected) bacteria. When antibiotics are used, friendly bacteria is also killed hence resulting in the rise of bacterial resistance. This results in drug-resistant bacteria and ultimately, drug-resistant diseases.
In order to prevent any occurrence of resistance, it is important that antibiotics are used judiciously and under strict prescription. Antibiotics are usually recommended for common colds and flu when the symptoms are not severe enough to warrant an intervention and the infection has not spread to the tissues of the body. However, antibiotics are not meant for all kinds of infection. In fact, it is most commonly known that antibiotics are required for the treatment of serious bacterial infections like urinary tract infection, gonorrhea, and skin infections caused by fungus and bacteria, where other treatments have failed.
One of the main reasons why antibiotics are prescribed is because of the misconception that they are more effective than alternative therapies. This is because antibiotics are considered to be quick-acting and effective in fighting infection. The truth however, is that antibiotics cannot distinguish between good and bad bacteria; hence, the fight against all infections is futile. Once a resistance develops, it becomes much more difficult to treat the condition. Another myth is that antibiotics are efficient against viruses. While antibiotics may kill some viruses, such as the human papilloma virus, there is no guarantee that all viruses will be killed once administered with antibiotics.
It is also important to understand that antibiotics are not only used to treat conditions. If you use antibiotics to treat a condition and then stop taking them, you have already compromised your body’s immune system. Antibiotics may be taken orally or through injection. When you take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, it is important that you follow his or her advice to the letter to avoid compromising your body. To begin with, it is best that you follow the doctor’s entire course of antibiotics.
You must complete the entire course of the antibiotic, even if you feel better. Completing the antibiotic course even before symptoms disappear will help prevent the onset of resistance to antibiotics. If you do not complete the course of antibiotics, you are risking developing a relapse of the infection. Thus, it is important that you take the full course of the antibiotic even if your symptoms seem to have abated. While you can complete the antibiotic course on your own, you must always consult your doctor when symptoms appear so that your doctor can determine whether or not you have developed immunity to the antibiotic.
The article Important Facts Concerning Antibiotics by LouAnn Moss appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.
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