Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!
Are you aware that colds, flu, and most sore throats and bronchitis are
caused by viruses? Did you know that antibiotics do not help fight viruses? It's
true. Plus, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do
more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your
risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
If You Have a Cold or Flu, Antibiotics Won't Work For You!
- Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses such as:
- Colds or flu; Most coughs and bronchitis;
- Sore throats not caused by strep; or
- Runny noses.
- Taking antibiotics for viral infections, such as a cold, cough, the flu,
or most bronchitis, will not:
- Cure the infections;
- Keep other individuals from catching the illness; or
- Help you feel better.
What Can I Do To Protect Myself Or My Child?
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What To Do
- Talk with your healthcare provider about antibiotic resistance.
- When you are prescribed an antibiotic,
1. Take it exactly as the doctor tells you. Complete the prescribed
course even if you are feeling better. If treatment stops too soon, some
bacteria may survive and re-infect you.
2. This goes for children, too. Make sure your children take all
medication as prescribed, even if they feel better.
3. Throw away any leftover medication once you have completed your
prescription.
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What Not To Do
- Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold, a
cough, or the flu.
- Do not demand antibiotics when a doctor says they are not needed.
They will not help treat your infection.
When you are prescribed an antibiotic,
1. Do not skip doses.
2. Do not save any antibiotics for the next time you get sick.
3. Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The
antibiotic may not be appropriate for your illness. Taking the wrong
medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
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When you use antibiotics appropriately, you do the best
for your health, your family's health, and the health of those around you. "We
want Americans to keep their families and communities healthy by getting smart
about the proper use of antibiotics," said Richard Besser, M.D., medical director of CDC's Get Smart
campaign.
- More Important Information
Taking
antibiotics for viral infections will increase the risk of antibiotic
resistance.
- Tens of millions of antibiotics prescribed in
doctors' offices each year are for viral infections, which cannot effectively
be treated with antibiotics. Doctors cite diagnostic uncertainty, time
pressure on physicians, and patient demand as the primary reasons why
antibiotics are over-prescribed.
- The spread of viral infections can be reduced through frequent hand
washing and by avoiding close contact with others.
Dangers of Antibiotic
Resistance
Antibiotic
resistance has been called one of the world's most pressing public health
problems. It can cause significant danger and suffering for people who have
common infections that once were easily treatable with antibiotics. When
antibiotics fail to work, the consequences are longer-lasting illnesses; more
doctor visits or extended hospital stays; and the need for more expensive and
toxic medications. Some resistant infections can cause death.
Sick individuals aren't the only people who can suffer
the consequences. Families and entire communities feel the impact when
disease-causing germs become resistant to antibiotics. These
antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, school mates
and co-workers - threatening the community with a new strain of infectious
disease that is more difficult to cure
and more expensive to treat.
Source: Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov)
Last Editorial Review: 1/13/2005
