Antibiotics and Bacterial Infections. Additional Information

This is the beginning of a month when people typically begin getting sick. People may not get sick exactly this month, but winter is on its way.

Review this passage for additional information… Of all medications prescribed by doctors today, antibiotics are by far the most popular. These medications are ordered to cure infections. The antibiotic functions by attacking and damaging or killing the bacteria that is causing your infection.

Scientists were surprised to discover the first antibiotic as a result of mold growth.

Don’t forget, antibiotics only treat infections that are caused by bacteria; they are useless in treating infections caused by a virus.

Many different classifications of antibiotics are available, and I will share a few of the more common ones here. Be aware that this is only a partial list. Amoxicillin is an example of the pencillins, which are one class of antibiotic. Another class is the cephalosporins, an example of which is cephalexin, and then there is a final class known as the macrolides, which include erythromycin.

The majority of antibiotics contain two names; the first is the brand name given by the company that made it. The drug’s second name is its generic name, which is based on the drug’s classification and the chemicals from which it is made.

Not every antibiotic works to fight every sickness. Sometimes, your physician may order an antibiotic for you, but that antibiotic wasn’t designed to treat your illness. In this case, the antibiotic won’t help you. The prescription has to be effective in treating whatever specific illness affects you.

Sometimes, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for ten days, but you begin to feel healthy after four days. Be sure that you take the antibiotic until it is completely gone so that you can be sure your infection heals completely.

Taking antibiotics in excess can actually cause the bacteria to become resistant to the medicine, which means you may face serious infections with no other medicine to help.

Some people have allergies to some antibiotic classes, such as penicillins. On the next occasion that a physician prescribes an antibiotic for you, he or she will know not to order one from that particular class for you again.

I am hopeful that all of you who are reading this will make it through the fall and winter without having to take antibiotics. Since it is nearly autumn, though, I want to make sure you are aware of the facts in the event that you do become ill.

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