• Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Role of Antibiotics: Different Diseases That Can Be Treated by Antibiotics

By: Eastern Eye Staff

Antibiotics are often prescribed by doctors for treating or preventing some kinds of bacterial infections. They are effective in killing bacteria or preventing them from breeding and spreading. Viral infections are immune to antibiotics. Hence, antibiotics do not work in cases of flu, common cold, sore throats, and coughs. In case of mild bacterial infections, antibiotics may not be recommended as these infections may be taken care of by your immune system. However, in complicated cases, bacterial infections may need to be treated with relevant antibiotics.

Doctors recommend antibiotics for treating bacterial infections that:

  • May not clear up without using antibiotics
  • May infect others if not treated with an antibiotic course
  • May infect other people unless treated with relevant antibiotics
  • May have the potential risks of grave complications
  • May take an extended period to clear without an antibiotic course

In this context, CDC claims that over 2.8 million cases of antibiotic-resistant infections take place every year in the U.S.A., and over 35,000 Americans lose their lives as a result. Antibiotics are best for saving lives, but they can trigger side effects and often may culminate in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics may be used with extra caution as every year in 28 percent of cases, antibiotics are recommended unnecessarily in the United States. Here are some diseases that need antibiotics for effective treatment.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a condition affecting your lungs. There seems to be fluid and inflammation in your lungs because of a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. When down with pneumonia, you face difficulty in breathing, and have a fever with bloody, green, or yellow mucus! Treatment will depend on the severity and cause of pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia is far more common and severe as compared to viral pneumonia. It may necessitate a hospital stay. According to MyBioSource, doctors often prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial pneumonia effectively.

Some symptoms of bacterial pneumonia are high fever, fatigue, cough with bloody, green, or yellow mucus, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chills or sweating, rapid heart rate, abdominal pain, chest pain, bluish nails or lips, loss of appetite, altered mental state, or confusion.

Strep Throat

Strep throat is commonly referred to as acute pharyngitis. It begins with a sore throat, and then you may notice other symptoms like pain while swallowing, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, or even abdominal pain. Strep pharyngitis does not show signs like hoarseness, cough, oral ulcers, rhinorrhea, or conjunctivitis. These symptoms are common in the case of a viral etiology. Doctors recommend antibiotics to treat strep throat effectively. Antibiotics help to minimize the duration of illness and symptoms. They are best for reducing transmission chances and preventing complications like acute rheumatic fever.

UTI or Urinary Tract Infection 

Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra from your rectum or skin and infect your urinary tract. The disease-causing bacteria may affect different parts of your urinary tract, but they usually cause a bladder infection. Some bladder infection symptoms are frequent urination, burning or pain, while urinating, bloody urine, and cramping in the lower abdomen or groin region. You may even develop a kidney infection with symptoms like chills, fever, vomiting, nausea, and pain in the sides or lower back. Usually, doctors prescribe antibiotics for effective treatment.

Conclusion

You may take antibiotics recommended by your doctor or healthcare professionals to treat the symptoms of the bacterial infections or diseases discussed. Always follow your doctor’s advice regarding antibiotics and dosage.

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