Antibiotics are powerful drugs that are generally safe to consume only if prescribed by your doctor. They are very helpful in fighting disease, but sometimes antibiotic tablets can be harmful.
Antibiotics are a group of medicines that your doctor will use to treat infections often caused by some germs. These germs are some bacteria and certain parasites. But antibiotic tablets do not work against conditions caused by viruses such as the common cold or flu.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) – the world urgently needs to change how it prescribes and uses antibiotics. The primary reason is – antibiotic resistance is a major global threat.
What are Antibiotics, and How Are They Used?
Antibiotics are powerful drugs that can help fight infections in your body. Your doctor thinks you or your loved one might have a condition that can be treated with an antibiotic.
Note that not all infections are treated with antibiotics. In contrast, antibiotics are effective against infections often caused by bacteria or germs. Note that they are not effective against viruses.
Like all drugs, antibiotics may have side effects and should be used only when necessary. If you take an antibiotic you do not need – it can even be harmful. Therefore, there are important things to know about antibiotics.
How Do Antibiotic Tablets Work?
As you might be aware, antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They can do this by killing the bacteria or preventing them from copying themselves or reproducing.
The word antibiotic means – against life. Any drug that kills germs in your body is technically known as an antibiotic. But most people will use the term when talking about medicine meant to kill bacteria.
Before scientists discovered antibiotics in the 1920s, many individuals died from minor bacterial infections, like strep throat. In those days, surgery was riskier. But after antibiotics became available in the 1940s – life expectancy increased. It was then that surgeries got safer, and individuals could survive diseases that used to be deadly infections.
What Antibiotics Can and Cannot Do
Do you know that most bacteria that live in your body are harmless? Some are even helpful. Still, bacteria can infect almost any organ in your body. Fortunately, antibiotic tablets can help.
Only bacterial infections can be killed with antibiotics. The common cold, flu, coughs, some bronchitis infections, sore throats, and even the stomach flu – are all caused by viruses. In such a case, antibiotic tablets would not work to treat them. Your doctor will tell you either to wait or prescribe antiviral drugs that would help you get rid of them.
It is not always obvious whether an infection is bacterial or viral. Sometimes your doctor will do tests before deciding which treatment suits you best.
Some antibiotic tablets work on many different kinds of bacteria. They are called broad-spectrum. In contrast, others target specific bacteria only. They are known as narrow-spectrum.
Your gut is full of bacteria which include both good and bad. Antibiotics often affect your digestive system while they are treating an infection. The common side may include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and more. Any of these symptoms can mean you are allergic to your antibiotic. So you should let your doctor know if you have them.
What You Need to Know About Antibiotics?
Did you know:
- Antibiotics are among The most commonly prescribed drugs your doctor would prescribe are antibiotics. However, up to 50 percent of all the antibiotics prescribed for patients are not needed. Nor are they as effective as you might think.
- The overuse of antibiotics is the most critical factor that might lead to antibiotic resistance.
- Each year in the US, at least 2 million people get serious infections with bacteria. These harmful bacteria are resistant to one or more of the antibiotics – specially designed to treat those infections.
- Do you know that more than 23,000 people die yearly- directly from these antibiotic-resistant infections? You would be surprised to learn that more than 250,000 people each year need hospital care to treat C. difficile infections. At times this infection becomes very difficult to treat. The use of antibiotic tablets was the main reason such illnesses developed. Unfortunately, around 14,000 people die each year only in the US from C. difficile infections. However, most of these infections could have been prevented.
The inappropriate or overuse of antibiotics gives these bacteria a chance to adapt. When such a scenario happens, the antibiotics no longer work. It is no longer effective to treat the infection. In simple terms, the bacteria become “resistant” to antibiotics.
What Should You Know About The Safety of Antibiotic Tablets?
Antibiotic tablets are powerful drugs that are generally safe. They are beneficial as they help fight disease, but antibiotics can also be harmful.
Key facts to know about antibiotic tablet safety:
- Antibiotics may have side effects, including allergic reactions and severe, possibly life-threatening diarrhea. They are caused by the bacteria (germ) Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Antibiotics might also interfere with other drugs you may be taking regularly.
- It is important to note that – the side effects of antibiotics are responsible for almost one out of five emergency department visits. Remember that they are the most common cause of emergency department visits for children under 18 years.
- You should never take an antibiotic tablet till you do not need it. You will be unnecessarily exposed to the side effects of the drug. In the end, you will not get any benefit from it.
It is important to note that taking an antibiotic you do not need can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance. When resistance develops, antibiotic tablets may not be able to stop future infections. Remember that every time you take an antibiotic you do not need – you increase your risk of developing a resistant infection in the long run.
The bottom line: antibiotics come with risks and benefits. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, you should discuss the balance of benefits and risks with your doctor in detail.
Side Effects Related to Antibiotics Tablet
1. Allergic reactions:
Surprisingly, more than 140,000 emergency department visits every year for reactions to antibiotics. Almost four out of five emergency department visits are due to antibiotic-related side effects. These side effects are primarily due to an allergic reaction.
These reactions range from mild rashes and itching to even blistering severe skin reactions. They also include swelling of the face and throat. One may even have breathing problems. Minimizing these unnecessary antibiotic tablet use is the best way to reduce your risk of side effects. You should tell your doctor about any past drug reactions or allergies you might have experienced.
2. C. difficile:
- difficile is a type of bacteria or germ that can cause diarrhea and is linked to at least 14,000 deaths in the USA. Do you know that when you take antibiotics, good bacteria that protect against infection are destroyed for several months?
During this period, you may get sick from C. difficile. You can pick up the bacteria from contaminated surfaces or spread it in the healthcare env. Individuals, especially older adults, are more at risk when taking antibiotic tablets and also getting medical care. Always take antibiotic tablets – exactly and only as prescribed.
3. Antibiotic resistance:
In layman’s terms, antibiotics may increase the risk of bacteria becoming resistant to them. Remember that antibiotic-resistant infections could be severe and even challenging to treat.
What illnesses are caused by viruses and can’t be treated by antibiotics?
Viruses are responsible for most upper respiratory infections. They include sore throats, head colds, bronchitis, and sinus infections. Remember that you cannot treat viruses with antibiotics.
The common cold and flu, or influenza as you may call it, do not respond to antibiotics. Bacteria cause less than 10 percent of acute bronchitis cases. In most cases, acute ear infections can also get resolved without antibiotics.
Viruses commonly cause sore throats. Your doctor will only recommend antibiotics when you have strep throat. Only about 15 to 30 percent of sore throat cases in children and up to 10 percent of cases in adults are due to strep throat. Even all cases of acute bacterial sinusitis resolve without antibiotic tablet.
It means – taking antibiotics for most acute upper respiratory tract infections does little or no good. And the downsides are real.
Who Cannot Take Antibiotics?
It is scarce for anyone – not to be able to take one or the other antibiotic. The main reason people cannot take an antibiotic – is if they have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic.
Even if you have had any such allergic reaction, your doctor can choose a different type of antibiotic. If you are pregnant, there are specific antibiotics you should not take. But your doctor can advise on which one is suitable if an antibiotic is needed.
If you are already on some medication, certain antibiotics may need to be avoided, or your regular medication may be stopped whilst you take the antibiotic. When you have been prescribed an antibiotic, ensure your doctor knows about any other medicines you take.
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