Seven main myths about antibiotics. Understanding what is true and what is not

Modern medicine is hard to imagine without antibiotics. They help to cope with ailments, from which there was no salvation a few centuries ago. But despite all the benefits, there are people who are confident that it is better not to deal with antibiotics. There is another extreme, when they are considered a cure for all diseases. We have collected seven of the most common myths and tried to debunk them. Myth No. 1: Antibiotics harm the immune system, and in general the body can cope with everything Antibiotics, in fact, like any other medication, can really cause some side effects - allergies, individual intolerance, and also affect the kidneys liver, circulatory system. But such cases are rare. At the same time, before prescribing any antibiotic, the DOCTOR finds out how suitable it is for you according to the indications. So the risk of harm is not so great.
But ignoring antibiotics can lead to irreparable consequences. For example, one cannot do without them in the treatment of pneumonia, pyelonephritis, peritonitis, abscesses, tonsillitis, meningitis, and so on. For example, if you do not drink antibiotics for angina, then problems with the heart (myocarditis) and kidneys (chronic urinary tract infection) may occur, and delay in prescribing a course for meningitis can even lead to death. Myth No. 2: Antibiotics, along with harmful bacteria, also kill beneficial bacteria Antibiotics can really walk through the intestinal microflora, but on a tangent. As a rule, they partially affect beneficial bacteria, so already a couple of days after the end of the course, the microflora is restored on its own without the use of any probiotics. But if you are worried about the intestines, you can lean on kefir, ryazhenka and yogurt. Experts also advise reducing the amount of fiber in the diet and focusing on softer foods. About dysbacteriosis and thrush, which, according to some people, causes the use of antibiotics, most often we are not talking. The maximum is short-term diarrhea. Myth #3: Pregnant women should never take antibiotics As with anyone who is ill, pregnant women should take antibiotics with caution. Experts advise in the first half of the term to refrain from taking potent drugs. If possible, it is better to start such therapy no earlier than the 20th week, when the protective shell of the fetus is finally formed. causes the use of antibiotics, most often it is not discussed. The maximum is short-term diarrhea. Myth #3: Pregnant women should never take antibiotics As with anyone who is ill, pregnant women should take antibiotics with caution. Experts advise in the first half of the term to refrain from taking potent drugs. If possible, it is better to start such therapy no earlier than the 20th week, when the protective shell of the fetus is finally formed. causes the use of antibiotics, most often it is not discussed. The maximum is short-term diarrhea. Myth #3: Pregnant women should never take antibiotics As with anyone who is ill, pregnant women should take antibiotics with caution. Experts advise in the first half of the term to refrain from taking potent drugs. If possible, it is better to start such therapy no earlier than the 20th week, when the protective shell of the fetus is finally formed.
True, there are antibiotics that are strictly forbidden to be taken in the later stages. First of all, we are talking about fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, which affect the growth of the baby's skeletal system (they can lead to pathologies). But penicillins and macrolides do not pose any danger to the child. By the way, there is a list of antibiotics on the WHO website, where those that can be used are highlighted in green, those that cannot be used in red, and controlled and reserve drugs in yellow. Myth No. 4: You can not finish the course of antibiotics until the end, if you feel better. This is a big mistake. If you do not complete the course to the end, with a high degree of probability the disease, and with it all the symptoms, will return after a certain time. This is at best, and at worst, you can get a complication to the heap. For example, with tuberculosis, interruption of the course can exacerbate the course, and then you will have to drink other antibiotics and in a higher dosage, since resistance to the previous drug will already develop. Therefore, in any case, be sure to complete the course of treatment, especially if you are struggling with severe or chronic infections. If you think that you feel better and you can stop taking antibiotics, then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule for taking them. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. as resistance to the previous drug will already develop. Therefore, in any case, be sure to complete the course of treatment, especially if you are struggling with severe or chronic infections. If you think that you feel better and you can stop taking antibiotics, then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule for taking them. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. as resistance to the previous drug will already develop. Therefore, in any case, be sure to complete the course of treatment, especially if you are struggling with severe or chronic infections. If you think that you feel better and you can stop taking antibiotics, then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule for taking them. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. Therefore, in any case, be sure to complete the course of treatment, especially if you are struggling with severe or chronic infections. If you think that you feel better and you can stop taking antibiotics, then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule for taking them. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. Therefore, in any case, be sure to complete the course of treatment, especially if you are struggling with severe or chronic infections. If you think that you feel better and you can stop taking antibiotics, then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule for taking them. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule of admission. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. then consult a doctor who can correctly adjust the schedule of admission. Myth #5: Antibiotics can be taken prophylactically Antibiotics should only be taken preventively if there is a high risk of severe or dangerous infections, such as open fractures. Also, antibiotic prophylaxis can be used on the eve of any operation or tooth extraction, but everything is under the control and as prescribed by doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. however, everything is under the control and prescription of doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing. however, everything is under the control and prescription of doctors. Self-employment in this case is not worth doing.
But to drink antibiotics before going on vacation, in order to avoid some kind of food poisoning and other problems associated with adaptation in a different climatic zone, it is not necessary. Experts believe that this can only harm, not help. Myth No. 6: Antibiotics help cure any infectious disease It’s worth saying right away that antibiotics have no effect on viruses, and if it’s them, such therapy will not help. Another thing is if bacterial complications appeared during the course of a viral disease. For example, an antibiotic may be prescribed for ARVI if the patient has an immunodeficiency. In most cases, with colds, flu and other similar diseases, you do not need to drink antibiotics - antiviral agents and immunoglobulins will perfectly cope with the disease. Myth #7: Antibiotics are incompatible with ALCOHOL as experts say, it is quite compatible with alcohol. However, this does not mean that you can get drunk while taking them. A couple of glasses of wine, of course, will not particularly harm the body, but alcohol abuse can lead to problems. Some drugs should absolutely not be mixed with alcohol in order to avoid unpleasant side effects - nausea, vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath. Also, alcohol significantly reduces the effectiveness of treatment: it additionally weakens the body, increases the load on the liver and creates new obstacles to recovery. to avoid unpleasant side effects - nausea, vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath. Also, alcohol significantly reduces the effectiveness of treatment: it additionally weakens the body, increases the load on the liver and creates new obstacles to recovery. to avoid unpleasant side effects - nausea, vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath. Also, alcohol significantly reduces the effectiveness of treatment: it additionally weakens the body, increases the load on the liver and creates new obstacles to recovery.

| Vadim BANNY for BELTA+ | Photos from open Internet sources.

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