| The word "antibiotic" is derived from the Greek anti meaning "against" and bios which means "life" (a bacterium is a life form). Antibiotics are potent medications taken to treat infections brought on by bacteria. If taken in the right way, antibiotics can save lives. They either fight off bacteria completely or stop their reproduction. Your body's natural defenses can commonly take it from there.
The majority of antibiotics have two names, the trade name created by the manufacturer, and a generic name based on chemical properties of antibiotics.
Antibiotics do not kill off infections brought on by viruses, such as colds, flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats unless caused by strep.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic can be taken to fight off a great number of infections. A narrow-spectrum antibiotic is only efficient against a few types of microorganisms. There are antibiotics that can kill off aerobic bacteria, while others work against anaerobic bacteria. Aerobic bacteria require oxygen, while anaerobic bacteria do not.
Antibiotics may be prescribed beforehand, to preclude an infection, as might be the case prior to surgery. This is called 'preventative' use of antibiotics. They are commonly taken prior to bowel and orthopaedic surgery.
Antibiotics can cause more harm than good, if not used in the proper way. Widespread use and misuse in the sick over time have jeopardized antibiotics' power to fight off bacteria. These days, nearly all bacteria show some resistance to these drugs, so that more lately introduced antibiotics are sometimes required to combat infections that were once easily treatable. Antibiotics can also lead to complications, such as diarrhea and vaginal yeast infections.
If you are taking an antibiotic, follow the instructions. Your dosage has been calculated to combat bacteria throughout the course of the illness. So, if you do not cultivation, you may find yourself at the risk of leaving enough germs in your body to restart the infection ... |
