Health Tip: Taking an Antibiotic
Antibiotics can help you recover from a bacterial infection, but they offer no medical benefit against viruses.
Prescribing an antibiotic for an viral illness, in fact, isn't a good idea. Overuse of these medicines can make the bacteria in your body resistant to the drugs. The medicines then lose their effectiveness, making a bacterial illness harder to treat.
The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these illnesses that are often treated with an antibiotic, and a few that don't need the medication:
* Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and won't respond to antibiotics.
* Cough and bronchitis are usually caused by viruses. However, people with chronic lung problems or those who have a cough that lasts a long time may need antibiotics.
* While a regular sore throat is caused by a virus, strep throat is a bacterial infection that requires antibiotic treatment.
* Ear and sinus infections should be evaluated by a doctor, since many are caused by bacteria, while others are viral.
Health Tip: Women and Antibiotics
Antibiotics are safe and effective medications prescribed to treat bacterial infections.
Here are possible side effects that women should be aware of before using these medications, courtesy of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics:
* Yeast infections.
* Diarrhea, upset stomach and vaginal infections.
* Decreased effectiveness of birth control pills.
* Certain antibiotics should not be taken by a woman who is pregnant or nursing, unless prescribed by a physician who is familiar with the woman's condition.
* Antibiotics can interact with many other medications.
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