Everything You Need to Know About Antibiotics

Everything You Need to Know About Antibiotics
Published : Jul 14, 2024

Antibiotics are effective medicines used to treat infections caused by harmful bacteria. They help to stop bacteria from multiplying or making copies of themselves. Unwanted bacteria cause various urinary tract infections, ear infections, and pneumonia. However, some mild bacterial infections get better on their own without the help of antibiotics, as your immune system can fight them. But when your body fails to defeat them, or you have more serious infections, antibiotics are the top option for treating a bacterial infection.

Antibiotics are lifesaving medicines for people suffering from severe bacterial infections. These medicines prevent infections from turning severe. There are several classes of antibiotics. Certain types of antibiotics are best for certain types of bacterial infections.

You can Get antibiotics online in different forms, such as tablets, ointments, capsules, and creams.

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are a large class of drugs that treat bacterial infections in the body. There are several types, and each works uniquely. Some common antibiotics include macrolides, penicillin antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, and more.

The type and location of your bacterial infection will determine the proper antibiotic treatment. It is essential to know that different antibiotics treat different types of bacteria. An antibiotic prescribed to treat an ear infection might not be effective at treating a urinary tract infection, and vice versa.

Antibiotics can be administered in numerous ways. Some are taken orally, some are inhaled, and others are applied to the skin topically. In the hospital, antibiotics are often injected into a vein. The correct formulation helps deliver the medicine to the infection spot effectively and quickly.

It is essential to know that all antibiotics work only against bacteria. They cannot kill fungi, viruses, or parasites.

How do antibiotics work in your body?

Antibiotics work by killing bacteria or obstructing their reproduction. These medicines can kill bacteria by damaging essential parts they need to survive, like their DNA or cell walls. Antibiotics also stop bacteria's growth by stopping them from making certain proteins required for them to multiply.

Several classes of antibiotics work in different ways. Some commonly used antibiotic classes include:

Penicillin

These antibiotics work by stopping bacteria from replicating by hindering their cell walls or the outer portion of cells.

Cephalosporins

They are similar to Penicillin, and this class of antibiotic joins itself to a protein in the cell wall to stop the bacteria from copying itself.

Fluoroquinolones

This antibiotic concentrates on the bacteria's DNA and causes it to break. 

Aminoglycosides

Aminoglycosides prevent the bacteria from making an effective outer protective layer called a cell membrane.

Macrolides

Macrolides are a class of antibiotics that obstruct bacteria from making the proteins they require to survive.

Tetracyclines

Like Macrolides, Tetracyclines block bacteria from making essential proteins. Because they can target and kill various bacteria, tetracyclines are considered broad-spectrum antibiotics.

How long do antibiotics take to work?

How long antibiotics take to work depends on which antibiotic you are consuming and what antibiotic you are taking to treat it. Usually, the symptoms of bacterial infection start to improve within 1 to 3 days, based on the infection, how unwell you are, and whether the antibiotic you are taking is suitable for the infection you suffer from.

Related Article - Can you drink Alcohol if taking Antibiotics

Can antibiotics treat viral infections?

Antibiotics do not work for treating viral infections. It would help if you do not take antibiotics for treating the following medical conditions:

  • Flu

  • Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is yellow, thick, or green

  • Most cases of bronchitis

  • Most sore throats

When to take antibiotics?

It isn't clear when to take antibiotics. It is always best to share all your symptoms with a doctor, who can better determine whether you need antibiotics. 

The very first step is to know whether you have an infection. Some common signs of bacterial infection include:

  • Reduced appetite

  • Pain in the area of your infection

  • Tiredness

  • Fever

  • Swelling

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Enlarged or painful glands

  • Muscle aches

  • Liquid or discharge draining from somewhere where it should not

Sometimes, doctors can determine whether your infection is bacterial by examining you and asking specific questions about your symptoms. In other cases, they might take samples and conduct tests to determine the type of bacterial infection.

Which infections can be treated with antibiotics?

Sometimes, people who feel sick often request antibiotics even when antibiotics won't work them. Below-stated are some common infections that can be treated with antibiotics:

  • Sinus infections

  • Urinary tract infections

  • Sore throat, strep throat, and tonsillitis

  • Middle ear infection

  • Dental infections

  • Skin infections

  • Bladder and kidney infections

  • Bacterial pneumonia

How do we achieve maximum benefits from antibiotics?

It would be best to take antibiotics properly to help them work as they should. Here are some tips to follow:

  • Take your antibiotics precisely in the same way as recommended by the doctor

Your doctor will explain the complete course of treatment. They will also tell you how often you must take the medicine daily and whether you can take antibiotics with food.

  • Never save your antibiotic pills for later use.

Saving your antibiotics for later use is not safe and will not help you in the future. Always use the antibiotics only to treat the particular infection you received them for.

  • Never take antibiotics prescribed by the doctor for someone else.

Prescriptions are always customized according to individual needs. Doctors prescribe antibiotics based on the type of infection and other factors, such as allergies and health conditions.

When should antibiotics not be used?

Before you start the treatment, it is essential to know antibiotics never work for viral infections. Antibiotics only target bacteria and not viruses. So, do not take antibiotics for treating the following conditions:

  • Common cold or runny nose

  • Flu

  • Sore throat

  • Most conditions of bronchitis

  • A sinus infection caused by a virus

What is Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotics are medicines that help you kill bacteria that infect you and make you ill. Sometimes, bacteria can change and adapt so that antibiotics no longer work against them and can fight them, and this is called antibiotic resistance.

Bacteria are tiny organisms that enter your body and are harmless or helpful, but some can cause diseases and infections. Before antibiotics, people often got very sick from bacterial infections, but Now, antibiotics may make it easier to treat many infections.

However, antibiotic resistance is a significant and growing concern worldwide, where antibiotic-resistant bacteria are more complex to kill. It can render infections extremely difficult to treat, as standard antibiotics may no longer be effective. This makes it crucial for each of us to use antibiotics correctly and cautiously. By doing so, we can play a significant role in preventing the risk of antibiotic resistance and ensuring the effectiveness of these lifesaving drugs.

Is it safe to take antibiotics every time you are sick?

No, doctors do not recommend taking antibiotics every time you are sick. They are potent medicines that should be taken only in certain situations. There are times when you are ill, especially with upper respiratory conditions or a cold, and these problems are due to a virus.

Viral illnesses never respond to antibiotics. Your body's immune system fights against viral infections.

Summary

Thus, antibiotics are powerful medicines that treat only infections caused by bacteria. They never help with infections caused by viruses. Antibiotics also don't treat allergies and any chronic disease symptoms. Before you start taking any antibiotics, consult your doctor once.

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