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Drug resistance: a new epidemic, and what can you do?

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024

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10 November 2011, 18:41

Did you know that the common cold, flu, tonsillitis and most of the bronchitis are viral diseases? Do you know that antibiotics do not help fight viruses and that their use in viral infections only aggravates the course of the disease?

Millions of people take antibiotics for colds, blindly believing that they can help. At the same time, recent studies of scientists have shown that the uncontrolled use of antibiotics leads to the development of new pathogenic strains of bacteria that are not susceptible to treatment.

"To date, the uncontrolled use of antibiotics has become a serious problem, and we can help patients by informing about the proper use of medicines," said Dr. Daniel Uslan, assistant to the UCLA Health System, "the public can play a significant role in reducing the threat of developing resistance to antibiotics. "

The expert advises the following:

If you come to a doctor for a cold or flu, talk about using antibiotics with your doctor. If it is a viral infection, antibiotics do not work and will only exacerbate the course of the disease. Antibiotics are prescribed only for bacterial infections.
If the doctor determines that you do not have a bacterial infection, do not ask for antibiotics. Instead, ask him about methods that you can use to relieve the symptoms of the disease.
Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed by the doctor, even if you feel better.
Do not store the remains of antibiotics in the medicine cabinet in case you get sick again.
Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone.
Do not think that yellow or green sputum means that you need antibiotics. It is normal that the mucus changes color during the course of the disease.
The vast majority of anginas do not require antibiotics. Only 5-15% of cases of sore throat are associated with streptococcus.

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