| The word "antibiotic" comes from the Greek anti which means "against" and bios which denotes "life" (a bacterium is a life form). Antibiotics are powerful medications taken to treat infections brought on by bacteria. If used as recommended, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill off germs outright or impede their reproduction. Your body's natural defenses can usually take it from there.
The vast majority of antibiotics have 2 names, the brand name created by the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the medication, and a generic name dependent on chemical properties of antibiotics.
Antibiotics do not fight off viral infections, for instance colds, influenza, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats unless caused by strep.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic can be taken to kill off a great range of infections. A narrow-spectrum antibiotic is only efficient against a few types of microbes. There are antibiotics that attack aerobic bacteria, while others work against anaerobic microorganisms. Aerobic bacteria need oxygen, whereas anaerobic bacteria do not.
Antibiotics may be precondition beforehand, to prevent an infection, especially before surgery. This is called 'prophylactic' use of antibiotics. They are commonly taken before bowel and orthopedic surgery.
Antibiotics can bring on more harm than good, if they are not taken in properly. Widespread use and misuse in sick people over time have jeopardized antibiotics' power to kill off bacteria. At present, nearly all bacteria are antibitocs-resistant, so that more lately introduced antibiotics are sometimes required to fight infections that were once easily cured. Antibiotics can also lead to complications, for instance vaginal yeast infections and diarrhoea.
When you take antibiotics, follow the instructions. Your dosage has been calculated to kill bacteria within the course of the illness. Thus, if you do not goal, you risk leaving enough microorganisms in your body to resume the infection - even if you are feeling good. The leftover medication will not be enough to fight off the bugs the next time, and it may even make them resistant to antibiotics. |