Antibiotics-Are they really good?

We are all familiar with the term ‘antibiotics’. Antibiotics are medicines that are frequently prescribed by physicians to cure minor ailments as well as life threatening diseases. However, these pills are taken for granted and they are consumed like sweets for every minor ailment. But the question arises, are antibiotics really good?

Let’s first understand: what is the role of antibiotics?

The human body has white blood cells that naturally attack harmful bacteria present in our body. When the body’s immunity is low and the white blood cells are unable to fight off the infection, they need help from antibiotics. Antibiotics are drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They either kill the bacteria or stop them from multiplying thus protecting us from the infection.

It is necessary to understand that antibiotics are used to treat ailments caused by bacteria but they do not work against illness like running nose, flu, sore throat, etc, that are caused by virus.

Team Medimanage spoke to renowned Physician Dr. Umesh Thakker and Pediatrician Dr. Dinesh Khare to clear a few doubts about antibiotics.

• Though antibiotics safeguard our health, why is it advised not to have antibiotics regularly?

A good immune system helps to fight against bacteria that enter our body. It is generally advised not to consume antibiotics regularly as it is important to let the body work in its natural way and not get used to external helping agents.

Dr. Umesh Thakker advises, “Antibiotics are not suitable for diseases like common cold andflu and other viral infections. Having regular antibiotics can lead to side effects; secondly, the germs get used to the antibiotics and develop antibiotic resistance.”

• It is also seen that most individuals stop taking medicines when they start feeling better and do not complete the antibiotic course recommended by the physician. Is it safe to discontinue antibiotics if you are already feeling well?

Dr. Umesh Thakker explains, “When people consume medicines they generally start feeling better when the antibiotics attack the germs. It is important to remember that these antibiotics do not kill 100% of the germs at a time. If the medications are stopped before the dose is completed, a certain amount of germs are still left in the body and they start growing. These germs develop resistance to this antibiotic and do not respond to the regular treatment and may cause severe conditions. Hence it is very essential to complete the antibiotic dosage to ensure that the body is free from almost all of the infectious bacteria.”

• It has been seen that parents self medicate antibiotics to their children. Is it safe to start the antibiotic course without the consent of the doctor?

Well Known Pediatrician, Dr. Dinesh Khare says, “Children generally have viral infections that are transmitted from one person to another. Viral infections do not need antibiotics except if there is a secondary problem. Parents should not self medicate medicines for ailments like cold, sore throat etc ” He adds “Children who are immunized well need antibiotics on fewer occasions. Parents generally use antibiotics that are previously recommended by doctors. Previously used antibiotics may not solve the problem but aggravate the same because:

1. Parents tend to wait for a few days after the giving the medicine. This increases the severity of the illness and leads to a longer time to recover.
2. Children develop resistance to the antibiotics which are used frequently and develop resistance to these drugs which in turn develops the need of higher doses.
3. The most important point to remember before giving medicines is that the child suffers the most as there are side effects to the antibiotics like loss of appetite, loose motions, etc, that cause discomfort to the child.”

 What are the important points to remember before taking antibiotic?

• Always have antibiotics exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Ensure that you have the correct dosage. Some antibiotics are consumed an hour before the meal while some antibiotics need to be taken after meals, it is necessary that you follow the instructions correctly for medications to be effective.
• Take the medicine for as long as prescribed by the physician. Even though you may start feeling better it is necessary that you complete the prescribed dosage. It is necessary to remember that the bacteria that the antibiotic cannot kill can redevelop if you take only part of the antibiotic prescription.
• If the antibiotics cause severe side effects that affect your daily routine call your doctor for guidance.

Antibiotics are like double edged knives; they fight against severe infection but could be dangerous to your health. It is the responsibility of every individual to become educated, change behavior, and reap the benefits of effective antibiotics to treat bacterial illnesses.