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Allison Arnold
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801-373-8930
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Update:
What You Should Know About Using Antibiotics
Winter is coming and so is the cold and flu season. If you suffer from a cold or the flu, then antibiotics will not work for you. Colds, flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats not caused by strep, and runny noses are usually caused by viruses; and antibiotics only kill bacteria. Antibiotics cannot cure a viral infection, keep others from catching it or help you feel better. Only time and your body's natural defenses can cure a viral infection.
In fact, taking antibiotics when you have a virus and/or when you don't need them poses one of the world's most significant public health risks. Overuse of antibiotics can cause antibiotic resistance; this is when antibiotics no longer work on disease-causing organisms. Diseases once easily treated by antibiotics become harder to treat, leading to longer-lasting illnesses, more doctor visits, extended hospital stays, and the need for more toxic medications. Some resistant infections can even cause death.
Taking antibiotics can also lead to potential side effects. If you do not need the antibiotic, then it is better to avoid any side effects like allergic reactions.
What Can You Do to Help Prevent Antibiotic Resistance?
-Do not insist on getting antibiotics when a physician says they are not needed.
-Take antibiotics exactly as your physician tells you.
-Do not skip doses.
-Do not share your antibiotics with others.
-Finish the prescription even if you feel better.
-Do not save the antibiotic for later.
-Help prevent illness by washing your hands frequently, getting the flu vaccine and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
This coming week, October 6-10, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be observing Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. You can find out more information about the campaign and antibiotics at www.cdc.gov/getsmart.
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