Antibiotics for treating influenza

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Is it possible to cure influenza with antibiotics - compatibility with antiviral drugs and prevention of complications

To treat severe cases of viral diseases, doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs - antibiotics for influenza.

Table of contents:

They do not fight the causes of the disease, but help eliminate the consequences and complications caused by the infection. Patients should remember that self-prescription of antibiotics is prohibited. Only a therapist can write a prescription for their purchase after examining a patient with influenza and establishing individual characteristics.

Do I need to take antibiotics during the flu?

The dangerous influenza virus enters the body through the respiratory tract, multiplies quickly and causes an inflammatory process. Its aggressive reproduction suppresses natural immunity and destroys the ciliated epithelium, suppresses the tissue barrier and enhances the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. Influenza is an unpredictable disease that causes complications in the cardiovascular, hematopoietic, nervous, muscular, and genitourinary systems.

Antibiotics against influenza can prevent the development of complications or mitigate them so that the body does not receive a negative impact. Doctors remind that antibacterial drugs do not cure the disease, do not destroy the virus, but are used only when bacterial diseases are associated with it. They are prescribed in critical cases in the presence of infectious foci. If you take antibacterial drugs uncontrolled and without indications, immunity will decrease, and flu complications will become more serious.

What are antibiotics for flu

In medical terminology, antibiotics mean drugs with an antibacterial composition that inhibits the life of bacteria and causes their death. Substances that act on microorganisms can be obtained naturally, semi-synthetically or synthetically. There are several groups of antibiotics, differing in composition, type of action and possible side effects.

In what cases is it prescribed

If the flu is accompanied by cold symptoms and a bacterial infection, antibiotics are effective for treatment. Before prescribing them, the doctor checks the cause of the disease, the severity of the disease, and the individual characteristics of the patient. Indications for the use of antibacterial agents are complications of influenza:

  • purulent tonsillitis or sore throat;
  • laryngotracheitis;
  • purulent otitis, sinusitis, lymphadenitis;
  • pneumonia, pneumonia.

When to start drinking

To prevent the occurrence of complications of the flu, you should not take antibiotics, but you should not hesitate to take them if the consequences are already disrupting the normal functioning of the body. Signs of when you can start taking antibacterial medications are the following:

  • change in secretion from the nose, bronchi - from cloudy it becomes greenish or yellowish;
  • high fever, shortness of breath, chest pain;
  • cloudy urine, pus, or blood in the stool;
  • enlarged lymph nodes;
  • plaque on the tonsils, sore throat;
  • ear pain, loss of smell.

What antibiotics to take

For influenza and bacterial complications, you can take only those medications prescribed by your doctor. If the cause of the disease is not clear, avoid using antibacterial medications to prevent complications. Based on the severity and type of flu, doctors select antibiotics, which are divided into several large groups. Each of them has its own characteristics in terms of the type of action on the pathogen and is distinguished by a wide spectrum of action.

Penicillins

The group of penicillins includes Augmentin, Ampicillin, Ampiox - these are substances with a pronounced bactericidal effect that help treat bacterial infections and severe forms of tonsillitis, otitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia. The drugs destroy the walls of bacteria, destroying microorganisms. Among the advantages of penicillins, low toxicity is noted, which is important for treating a child.

Cephalosporins

This group, which has an active bactericidal effect, includes Cephalexin, taken orally, and other intravenous or intramuscular injections. The composition includes substances that destroy bacterial cell membranes. Antibiotics of this group treat pleurisy, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Unlike penicillins, they cause a lower risk of allergies, but can negatively affect kidney function.

Macrolides

This group is divided into two subgroups - azalides (Azithromycin) and ketolides (Telithromycin). Antibiotics have an active bacteriostatic effect and effectively treat atypical pneumonia. Prominent representatives of the group are Erythromycin, Macropen and Clarithromycin, which were developed to find a replacement for penicillins, which cause too many allergic reactions. Macrolides do not have this property.

Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones are used to destroy mycoplasmas, pneumococci, chlamydia and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria). Prominent representatives of the group are Levofloxacin and Suprax. They quickly penetrate the cell and infect microbes. The group is distinguished by a minimal level of toxicity, safety of use, and the absence of allergic reactions to the composition of the drugs. This group is prohibited for young children due to impaired development of articular cartilage.

The best antibiotic

It is difficult to name the most effective antibiotic for flu and colds, because it works differently for each person. The result of the action depends on the type and course of the disease, plus the doctor takes into account the patient’s age, gender, and the presence of diseases - current and in history. One of the popular antibiotics is a drug called Amoxiclav, which is allowed even during pregnancy.

Amoxiclav

The effective antibacterial drug Amoxiclav is considered a modern medicine that perfectly treats complications of colds and infections after surgery. In medicine, it is used to treat mixed infections caused by gram-negative and gram-positive microbes in combination with anaerobes. Their mixture causes chronic forms of otitis, sinusitis, and aspiration pneumonia.

Amoxiclav contains aminopenicillin, amoxicillin, and clavulanic acid. The substances inhibit the synthesis of bacterial walls and kill many microorganisms. Amoxiclav belongs to the group of penicillins, but compared to other representatives it acts faster and treats inflammatory processes: acute and chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, abscesses, pneumonia, otitis.

Antibiotics for influenza for children

As for adults, antibacterial agents for children suffering from the flu should be prescribed by a doctor after he has examined the patient and determined the cause of the disease. The child should be given antibacterial drugs with caution, only after the temperature has persisted for a long time, cough, or runny nose. Parents should monitor the condition of their children and prevent uncontrolled use of antibiotics, which can have a destructive effect on the growing body.

You should listen carefully to your pediatrician and follow the dose and course of treatment for influenza. For children, medications of the tetracycline group (Tetracycline, Doxycycline), fluorinated quinolones (Ofloxacin, Pefloxacin) are prohibited - they negatively affect the formation of tooth enamel and articular cartilage. Levomycetin, which causes anemia, is not used in children's treatment, but Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Flemoxin Solutab and Moximac, which are inexpensive, are recommended.

Reception features

Antibiotics are potent substances, so the course of therapy with them does not exceed a week (but not less than five days); severe cases can extend the period of use to 14 days. When using any antibacterial medicine, it is worth protecting the intestinal microflora by drinking strong probiotics. Approximate dosage of antibiotics depending on the main group:

  • cephalosporins – 400 mg per day in two doses for a course of up to 14 days;
  • fluoroquinolones – 0.25 g up to six times a day;
  • penicillins – 2-3 g per day, divided into four doses;
  • other types - according to the instructions.

Is it possible to take antiviral medications with antibiotics?

To treat influenza, antiviral drugs are used to increase immunity to pathology. Antibiotics for acute respiratory viral infections prevent the proliferation of bacteria and destroy any foreign life in the body. The simultaneous use of these two groups is undesirable, because their actions contradict each other. Taking antibiotics and antiviral drugs together is only possible if a superinfection develops, when the immune system is affected by a virus infection and a bacterial mass develops, causing pneumonia or another disease.

Consequences of antibiotic treatment

The consequences of taking antibacterial agents for influenza viral disease can be negative and even destructive. There is a list of side effects:

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
  • intestinal dysbiosis, bloating;
  • allergic reactions - rash, itching, urticaria, anaphylactic shock, swelling;
  • Oral candidiasis – white cheesy coating on the mucous membrane, itching;
  • nephro- and hepatotoxic effects - damage to liver and kidney tissues;
  • hepatitis, headaches, dizziness;
  • hemolytic anemia.

To minimize the severe and destructive consequences of taking antibiotics, you should follow the rules for their use:

  • observe reception hours;
  • drink with clean water, mineral water without gas;
  • simultaneously take hepatoprotectors (Linex, Essentiale Forte) and probiotics;
  • review your diet in favor of a lighter diet;
  • drink more fermented milk products, give up fatty foods, fried foods, and alcohol;
  • do not take tablets during meals - an hour before or after meals;
  • eat meat, vegetables, baked fruits, white bread.

You can order inexpensive antibiotics for colds and flu in the pharmacy department catalog or buy them in an online store with home delivery. Cheap drugs are produced by domestic manufacturers, more expensive ones – by foreign ones. The cost of drugs depends on the type, group and format of the drug produced. Approximate prices for popular products are shown in the table:

Price on the Internet, rubles

Price at the pharmacy, rubles

Amoxicillin capsules 500 mg, 16 pcs.

Amoxiclav tablets 500+125 mg, 15 pcs.

Levofloxacin tablets 500 mg, 5 pcs.

Erythromycin tablets 250 mg, 10 pcs.

Cephalexin capsules 500 mg, 16 pcs.

Tetracycline tablets 100 mg, 20 pcs.

Flemoxin Solutab tablets 500 mg, 20 pcs.

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The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Source: http://sovets.net/12551-antibiotiki-pri-grippe.html

Antibiotics for flu and colds for adults

Home » Colds » Antibiotics for flu and colds for adults

Antibiotics for colds and flu: what is best for adults to take

People with medical education know for certain that antibiotics for colds and flu are ineffective, but they are not cheap and are harmful.

Moreover, both doctors in clinics and those who have just graduated from medical school know this.

However, antibiotics are prescribed for colds, and some patients are advised to take these medications to prevent infections.

For a common cold, it is better to do without antibiotics. The patient must be provided with:

  1. bed rest;
  2. drinking plenty of water;
  3. balanced diet with a high content of vitamins and minerals;
  4. if necessary, effective antipyretic tablets or injections;
  5. gargling;
  6. inhalation and nasal rinsing;
  7. rubbing and compresses (only in the absence of fever).

Perhaps the treatment of colds can be limited to these procedures. But some patients persistently ask their doctor for a good antibiotic or a cheaper analogue.

It happens even worse: a sick person, due to the fact that he has no time to visit the clinic, begins self-medication. Fortunately, pharmacies in big cities today are located every 200 meters. There is no such open access to medicines as in Russia in any civilized state.

But in fairness, it should be noted that many pharmacies have begun to dispense broad-spectrum antibiotics only with a doctor’s prescription. However, if you wish, you can always pity the pharmacy pharmacist by citing severe illness or find a pharmacy for which turnover is much more important than people’s health.

Therefore, antibiotics for colds can be purchased without a prescription.

When should you take antibiotics for acute respiratory infections and flu?

In most cases, colds are of viral etiology, and viral infections are not treated with antibiotics. Broad-spectrum tablets and injections are prescribed only in cases where an infection has arisen in an organism weakened by a cold that cannot be defeated without antibacterial drugs. This infection can develop:

In such a situation, antibiotics are needed for colds and flu.

Laboratory research methods, the results of which can be used to judge the need to take antibacterial agents, are not always prescribed. Often, clinics save on sputum and urine cultures, explaining their policy by saying that this is too expensive.

Exceptions are smears taken from the nose and pharynx for sore throat for Lefler's bacillus (the causative agent of diphtheria), selective cultures of urine for diseases of the urinary tract and selective cultures of tonsil discharge, which are taken for chronic tonsillitis.

Patients treated in a hospital are much more likely to have laboratory confirmation of a microbial infection. Changes in clinical blood test are indirect signs of bacterial inflammation. Having received the results of the analysis, the doctor can proceed from the following indicators:

  1. ESR;
  2. leukocyte count;
  3. an increase in segmented and band leukocytes (shift of the leukocyte formula to the left).

And yet, doctors prescribe antibiotics for colds very often. Here is a clear example of this, taken from the results of an inspection of one children's medical institution. 420 outpatient records of young patients from 1 to 3 years were analyzed. In 80% of cases, doctors diagnosed children with acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections; acute bronchitis – 16%; otitis – 3%; pneumonia and other infections – 1%.

For pneumonia and bronchitis, antibacterial therapy was prescribed in 100% of cases, but in 80% it was prescribed for both acute respiratory infections and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

And this is despite the fact that the vast majority of doctors are well aware that using antibiotics without infectious complications is unacceptable.

Why do doctors still prescribe antibiotics for flu and colds? This happens for a number of reasons:

  • reinsurance due to the early age of children;
  • administrative settings;
  • preventive measures to reduce complications;
  • lack of desire to visit assets.

How to determine complications without tests?

A doctor can determine by eye that an infection has been added to a cold:

  1. the color of discharge from the nose, ears, eyes, bronchi and pharynx changes from transparent to dull yellow or poisonous green;
  2. when a bacterial infection occurs, a repeated rise in temperature is usually observed, this is typical for pneumonia;
  3. the patient's urine becomes cloudy and sediment can be observed in it;
  4. pus, mucus or blood appears in the stool.

Complications that may arise after ARVI are determined by the signs given below.

  • The situation is this: a person had an acute respiratory viral infection or a cold and was already on the mend, when suddenly the temperature jumped sharply to 39, the cough intensified, chest pain and shortness of breath appeared - all these manifestations signal that there is a high probability of developing pneumonia.
  • If a sore throat or diphtheria is suspected, the temperature rises, the sore throat intensifies, plaque appears on the tonsils, and the lymph nodes on the neck become enlarged.
  • With otitis media, fluid is released from the ear, and when you press on the tragus in the ear, severe pain appears.
  • Signs of sinusitis manifest themselves as follows: the patient’s sense of smell completely disappears; Severe pain occurs in the forehead area, which intensifies when the head is tilted; the voice becomes nasal.

What antibiotics to take for a cold?

Many patients ask their therapists this question. Antibiotics for colds should be chosen based on the following factors:

  1. localization of infection;
  2. the age of the patient (adults and children have their own list of medications);
  3. medical history;
  4. individual drug tolerance;
  5. state of the immune system.

But in any situation, only a doctor prescribes antibiotics for colds.

Sometimes broad-spectrum antibiotics are recommended for use against uncomplicated acute respiratory infections.

Against some blood diseases: aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis.

With clear signs of weakened immunity:

  • low-grade fever;
  • colds and viral diseases more than five times a year;
  • chronic inflammatory and fungal infections;
  • HIV;
  • congenital pathologies of the immune system;
  • oncological diseases.

Children under 6 months:

  1. against infant rickets;
  2. against weight loss;
  3. against various developmental defects.

It is recommended to take antibiotics for colds for the following indications:

  • Bacterial tonsillitis requires treatment with macrolides or penicillins.
  • Purulent lymphadenitis is treated with broad-spectrum drugs.
  • Acute bronchitis, exacerbation of its chronic form, and laryngotracheitis and bronchiectasis will require the prescription of macrolides. But first it is better to do a chest x-ray, which will rule out pneumonia.
  • In acute otitis media, after otoscopy, the doctor makes a choice between cephalosporins and macrolides.

Azithromycin – an antibiotic for colds and flu

Azithromycin (other name Azimed) is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. The active substance of the drug is directed against the protein synthesis of sensitive microorganisms. Azithromycin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The peak effect of the drug occurs two to three hours after administration.

Azithromycin is rapidly distributed in biological fluids and tissues. Before you start taking pills, it is better to test the sensitivity of the microflora that provoked the disease. For adults, Azithromycin should be taken once during the day, one hour before meals or three hours after meals.

  1. For infections of the respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues, a single dose of 500 mg is prescribed on the first day of admission, then for three days the patient takes Azithromycin 250 mg per day.
  2. For acute urinary tract infections, the patient should take three Azithromycin tablets once.
  3. Against the initial stage of Lyme disease, three tablets are also prescribed once.
  4. For stomach infections caused by Helicobacter pylori, the patient should take three to four tablets at a time for three days.

The release form of the drug is tablets (capsules) of 6 pieces in a package (blister).

Other antibacterial drugs

If the patient does not have an allergic reaction to penicillin, antibiotics for influenza can be prescribed from the semi-synthetic penicillin series (Amoxicillin, Solutab, Flemoxin). In the presence of severe resistant infections, doctors prefer “protected penicillins,” that is, those consisting of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid, here is their list:

For angina, this treatment is best.

Names of cephalosporin drugs:

For mycoplasma, chlamydial pneumonia or infectious diseases of the ENT organs, the following medications are prescribed:

Should antibiotics be prescribed? It is useless to treat influenza and ARVI with them, so this problem falls entirely on the shoulders of the doctor. Only a physician who has the patient’s medical history and test results in front of him can give a full account of the advisability of prescribing a particular antibacterial drug.

In addition, inexpensive but effective antiviral drugs can be used in treatment, which indicates an integrated approach to the treatment of influenza.

The problem is that most pharmaceutical companies, in pursuit of profit, continually throw out more and more new antibacterial agents into a wide sales network. But most of these drugs could be in stock for the time being.

Antibiotics, flu, colds - what conclusions can be drawn?

So, from all that has been said above, we can conclude that antibiotics should be prescribed only for bacterial infections. Flu and colds are 90% viral in origin, so for these diseases, taking antibacterial drugs will not only not bring benefit, but can provoke a number of side effects, for example:

  1. decreased immune response of the body;
  2. depression of kidney and liver function;
  3. imbalance of intestinal microflora;
  4. allergic reactions.

The use of these drugs for the prevention of viral and bacterial infections is unacceptable. Taking aggressive medications, such as antibiotics, is possible only in extreme cases, when all indications exist.

The main criteria for the effectiveness of treatment with antibacterial drugs include the following changes:

  • relief of the patient’s general condition;
  • decrease in body temperature;
  • disappearance of symptoms of the disease.

If this does not happen, then the medicine needs to be replaced with another. To determine the effectiveness of the drug, three days must pass from the start of treatment. Uncontrolled use of antibacterial medications leads to disruption of the resistance of microorganisms.

In other words, the human body begins to get used to antibiotics and each time require more and more aggressive drugs. In this case, the patient will have to be prescribed not one drug, but two or even three.

Everything you need to know about antibiotics is in the video in this article.

What antibiotic to take for flu and colds?

Answers:

Just LANA

Antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria and therefore their use should be limited to the treatment and prevention of various bacterial infections. Infections are different, and therefore the treatment of each case of the disease should be based on the real picture of the disease. The culprits of most colds, for example, are viruses, against which antibiotics are absolutely powerless, but as the disease develops, a bacterial infection joins the viral infection and therefore in this case antibiotics can be used (if the high temperature lasts for more than 3 days). Amoxicillin, Erythromycin and many others. Other antibiotics can help with a bacterial infection. You need to start drinking Arbidol and drink more fluids.

Brazhka My friend

They don’t prescribe anything for the flu, because it’s not effective!

For colds, drink water and paracetamol!

Bully

Arbidol, rimantadine - the doctor immediately prescribes them, although it does not seem to be an antibiotic. The pharmacy should advise.

Nastya

arbidol helps a lot, axolinic ointment - to smear the nose

Loutchik **********

Fast for 2 days, drink only water and everything will pass

Kitty

Try Amoxicillin 0.5 4 times a day. The first dose - 1.0 - shock.

If there is a homeopathic pharmacy, ask there, there are just miracle remedies, if there are no such pharmacies, then buy Aflubin in a regular pharmacy and actively drink drops according to the instructions, every 4 hours.

Yulia Timoshenko

If you really can’t do without antibiotics, then I would choose sumamed. New, modern, all side effects are kept to a minimum, and the course is only three days. The action is prolonged. Even my homeopathic doctor, although categorically against antibiotics, says that if you still have to take it, then there is no better option than sumamed.

Tatyana Yuzviuk

The best antibiotic is a herbal one, for example Po D Arco, without side effects and cluttering the body with all sorts of rubbish.

Alena Lareva

Antibiotics do not help against viruses, only against their complications. If you have recently fallen ill, use ingavirin according to the regimen in the instructions

entry

Antibiotics do not work on viruses.

You need to take antiviral drugs, the doctors will probably laugh, but saline solution intravenously 500 ml every day for 4 days helps quite well.

Well, the antibiotics Ciproflox and Augmentin are not bad.

Big girls don't cry

No antibiotics are prescribed for colds and flu. These diseases are caused by viruses, against which antibiotics are powerless.

Biseptol is generally a quiet horror. it has not been appointed for 100 years.

Alice Sweetheart

I agree with the answer above, antibiotics against viruses are useless, they will neither reduce the temperature nor eliminate the symptoms. I take Amiksin in such cases, it quickly puts me on my feet, there are no side effects.

Antibiotics for colds: what you need to know. What antibiotics can be prescribed for a cold?

After doctors began using various antibiotics, medicine entered a new stage of development. These drugs have unique properties that destroy or slow down the development of dangerous microorganisms, which allows them to be widely used in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Pharmacists are creating more and more medicines, and today it is very difficult to find a family that does not have antibiotics in their medicine cabinet. Some people, having fallen ill with the flu or acute respiratory infections, manage to prescribe medications for themselves, thereby causing irreparable harm to their health. Can you take antibiotics for a cold? For what diseases is it better to avoid using them?

Rules and patterns

You should know that antibiotics are not as harmless as they seem at first glance. These drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor, and they must be taken with great caution. Especially when antibiotics are used for colds in children. When using any medications, you must carefully read the instructions and be sure to pay attention to their expiration date.

If you are going to take antibiotics, you should know that they only help with bacterial infections. They will not bring any effect against influenza and ARVI, since these diseases occur in the body due to the activity of viruses. Antibiotics are powerless against them.

For high fever or inflammatory processes, these drugs are also not prescribed. They are not antipyretics, so taking them will not have any effect in case of high temperature.

Antibiotics for colds

Today, many drugs are advertised on TV, but this does not mean that during illness you can prescribe them yourself. If you have a question about what antibiotics to take for a cold, you should contact your doctor, not your best friend or mother.

After a complete examination and receipt of test results, the specialist may prescribe the following medications:

  • macrolides (“Clarithromycin”, “Azithromycin”, “Roxithromycin”);
  • penicillins (Augmentin, Ampiox, Amoxiclav);
  • cephalosporins (Cefiprom, Cefotaxime, Cefazolin).

Antibiotics for colds are prescribed according to the type of disease, its severity and other characteristics. If side effects or allergic reactions are detected, the drug may be replaced with another.

Some features of diseases

When a cold (or acute respiratory infection) occurs, the body is attacked by viruses. Nasal congestion appears, the throat becomes sore and red, and a runny nose overcomes. During this period, the immune system actively fights the disease, fever and chills appear.

The best treatment at this time is not antibiotics. For flu and colds, antiviral drugs are used at the initial stage. The most common of them are “Anaferon”, “Laferon”, “Reaferon”, drops and suppositories. Medicines containing natural herbal ingredients include “Proteflazid” and “Immunoflazid”.

When are antibiotics prescribed?

Usually within a week the patient's condition improves. If this does not happen, based on the tests, the doctor concludes that a bacterial infection has joined the disease. In this case, antibiotics for colds are prescribed.

This is very important, since the patient’s condition may become more complicated, and influenza or acute respiratory infections take on a dangerous form - it could be pneumonia, acute bronchitis or purulent tonsillitis. Only strong antibiotics will help the body cope with the attack of bacteria.

In this case, it is very important to choose the right drugs. Which? Antibiotics for colds are prescribed based on bacteriological examination of the patient's sputum. The laboratory, after performing the analysis, provides results on the resistance of bacteria to certain drugs.

Having determined the most suitable antibiotics, the doctor prescribes them to the patient. If you are allergic to this medicine or have side effects, another medicine is prescribed. You should know that you cannot suddenly stop taking an antibiotic. If you have a cold, an adult needs to use it for another two to three days. Even after a visible improvement in the general condition, it is not recommended to stop therapy.

Antibiotics for colds for children

All parents should know that medications in this category are prescribed to children in extreme cases and only by a specialist. Do not use medications without the consent of your doctor!

The best cold remedies for a child are drinking plenty of fluids, antipyretics (if the temperature is above 38 degrees) and antiviral syrups.

If the baby's condition does not improve, stronger medications are prescribed. A good antibiotic for colds is Amoxiclav. It is used for bacterial infection in the respiratory tract. For pneumonia, the drug "Avelox" can be prescribed, for pleurisy - "Suprax", for fungal atypical pneumonia, "Hemomycin" helps well. However, remember that medicine can only be prescribed by a doctor after reviewing the test results!

Strictly contraindicated for children!

Many antibiotics for colds can cause side effects in a child’s fragile body. This may include decreased appetite, unstable stools, abdominal pain, nausea, and anxiety.

Therefore, there are a number of antibiotics that are not prescribed to children; their use can cause terrible harm to the child’s health. These include:

  • "Levomycetin";
  • "Ceftriaxone";
  • aminoglycosides and tetracyclines (contraindicated in children under 8 years of age).

Uncontrolled use of these drugs can lead to liver damage, disruptions in the nervous system, and dysbacteriosis. Some medications have irreparable effects on hearing and can even lead to complete deafness in a child. Cases of toxic shock and even death are common. Therefore, do not self-medicate under any circumstances and always seek help from a specialist.

Effective drugs for bronchitis

If you have an acute respiratory infection, you need to stay in bed, take a sufficient amount of warm liquid and try to do everything to make the disease go away. If the general condition worsens, an adult may be prescribed appropriate potent drugs. Your doctor will tell you the name of antibiotics for colds (in the case of bronchitis). Often prescribed:

Complication of sore throat

It is very bad if the patient’s condition does not improve within four to six days. It’s even worse if the disease takes on a dangerous form in the form of a purulent sore throat.

The name of antibiotics taken for colds will be different in this case. Drugs used:

There are many more effective medications that successfully destroy bacteria in the human body. However, they are prescribed only by a doctor and taken strictly as recommended.

In what cases are antibiotics necessary?

For mild forms of acute respiratory infections, laryngitis, rhinitis, and viral tonsillitis, these drugs are not prescribed. Antibiotics for flu and colds can only be used in extreme cases, if there are frequently recurring diseases, prolonged fever, as well as in patients with cancer or HIV infection.

Potent drugs are indicated if:

  • purulent complications of acute respiratory infections;
  • acute otitis;
  • severe sinusitis lasting more than 14 days;
  • streptococcal sore throat;
  • pneumonia.

How to take antibiotics?

For adults, medications in this group are mainly produced in tablets or capsules, for children - in the form of syrup. The drug is taken orally. It is advisable not to combine antibiotics for colds, preferring monotherapy (use of one drug).

The medicine should be taken in such a way that its maximum concentration is at the site of infection. For example, for upper respiratory tract disease, an antibiotic is prescribed in the form of aerosols or drops. This is how the components of the medicine instantly manifest their effect and quickly have an effect.

The effectiveness of the drug is judged by the decrease in body temperature within hours after taking it. If this does not happen, use another antibiotic. It is not recommended to combine the drug with an antipyretic drug. In severe cases of the disease, immediate hospitalization is recommended.

Treatment regimen

The dosage of the antibiotic depends on the causative agent of the disease, the form of the disease, its severity and the age of the patient. If the drug is prescribed to a child, his weight is also taken into account. When antibacterial therapy of a newborn, the gestational age is taken into account: for a child born at term and a premature baby, the doses of the medicine will be different.

The drug dosage regimen is strictly followed throughout the entire course of treatment. Usually it is recommended to take the medicine for at least 5-10 days. Continuing treatment beyond the prescribed period is strictly prohibited, as is stopping the drug on your own.

A good antibiotic for colds can kill bacteria within a few days. However, it should be remembered that in combination therapy, drugs with similar composition and effects are not prescribed. This can lead to toxic liver damage.

Possible side effects

A prescribed antibiotic for a cold will certainly harm an adult less than a child. However, this potent drug can cause a number of side effects, such as rash, nausea, vomiting, headaches and other unpleasant symptoms.

If an antibiotic is used uncontrolled, it can cause the following reactions in the body:

  • allergic rashes;
  • intestinal dysbiosis;
  • resistance of bacteria to a certain type of drug.

Most often, allergic manifestations occur after taking penicillin antibiotics. If a rash or other discomfort occurs after taking the medicine, it is better to stop taking it and consult a doctor.

Interaction with other drugs

Combining several medications is undesirable, especially if one of them is an antibiotic. If you are taking any medicine, be sure to tell your doctor. He will select the best treatment option. But in any case, the antibiotic is taken at a different time and preferably without combining it with other medications.

Special instructions should be given to women taking hormonal contraceptives. When interacting with some antibiotics, their effect is reduced, which can lead to unwanted pregnancy.

Also, any medications are not recommended for use during lactation. Antibiotics can penetrate into mother's milk and have a negative effect on the baby, causing dysbacteriosis or allergic rashes. It is strictly forbidden to take any medications while carrying a child.

Be careful!

Our body is inhabited by many beneficial bacteria that perform a number of necessary functions. Remember that when taking an antibiotic, they die at the same time as harmful microorganisms. Most potent drugs destroy the normal microflora of the intestines, stomach and other organs, provoking the appearance of fungus. Therefore, candidiasis can often develop after taking antibiotics.

You should also think about it if you are experiencing allergic reactions. Maybe the uncontrolled use of antibiotics is to blame? People who use these drugs for a long time are very likely to develop an allergy to any irritant: dust, odors, flowering plants, detergents.

The fact is that antibiotics weaken our immunity, preventing it from coping with the infection on its own. Without natural stimulation, the body's normal defenses deteriorate, and it reacts painfully to any irritant.

You should not take one type of drug for a long time. Pathogens can quickly develop resistance to this drug and may not be easy to get rid of in the future.

Now you know what antibiotics are and when it is advisable to use them. The free sale of these drugs in pharmacies cannot be a guide to action. Any medications can only be prescribed by a specialist, and your doctor will decide which antibiotic is best for a cold.

Are injections for colds and flu really necessary?

Many people believe that injections for colds and flu are an effective remedy. Modern medicine casts great doubt on this statement and recommends performing these manipulations only in particularly severe cases. Otherwise, you can successfully get by using tablets and syrups.

Colds and flu are the most common diseases. There is no person in the world who has not experienced their symptoms. One has only to remember the cold period of the year, which is invariably accompanied by influenza epidemics. People who have a cold do not have the habit of immediately seeking specialized help; they try to treat themselves. But there are also those who strive for a speedy recovery, so they turn their attention to antibiotics. And, often, precisely in the form of injections.

A little about diseases

A cold, or acute respiratory disease (ARI), never occurs just like that. In most cases, the cause is various viruses that are activated after hypothermia. They reduce immunity, and their waste products are toxic to the human body.

Colds are usually mild and go away within a few days. It is not characterized by high fever. Only sometimes there is a slight increase in temperature. Companions of a cold are cough and runny nose, sore throat.

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by a virus that leads to general intoxication of the body and possible dangerous complications. The influenza virus very easily “travels” from a sick person to a healthy person. Influenza is transmitted by airborne droplets or household contact.

The virus infects the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. These toxins and epithelial cell breakdown products are very toxic to the body. The flu is accompanied by high fever, aching muscles and joints, headache and weakness.

The main cause of colds and flu is weakened immunity. Flu can cause complications such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, asthma and others.

Can antibiotics be used?

Flu and colds are viral diseases. Therefore, the fight is carried out directly against the pathogen – the virus. In medicine, there is a statement that antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Their target is bacteria. Therefore, their use in cold or flu treatment is inappropriate. Antibiotics should be used only if the patient's condition does not improve or even gets worse within a week.

Doctors usually prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics. Among them:

  1. Penicillins, which are represented by Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Ampiox.
  2. Cephalosporins: Cefazolin and Ceftriaxone.
  3. Macrolides: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin and Roxithromycin.

They can be in the form of tablets or injections.

It is important to note that after the condition has normalized, you should not immediately stop taking the prescribed antibiotic. This is due to the fact that complete destruction of the bacteria may not yet have occurred and some of them may have survived. They quickly develop protective immunity against this antibiotic, and the next time the medicine will be useless in the fight against them.

As an example, consider the broad-spectrum antibiotic Cefazolin. It, unlike other drugs, retains its effect for longer than 8 hours, and is excreted from the body through the kidneys. Cefazolin is highly effective and characterized by low toxicity. The drug is administered intramuscularly with novocaine (with the exception of minor children and elderly people) or intravenously with saline. It is important not to confuse!

Choosing a course of treatment

The fight against the disease includes several important stages:

  1. Etiological – impact on the cause of the disease.
  2. Symptomatic – combating the symptoms of the disease (temperature above 38 degrees, cough, runny nose).
  3. Strengthening – increasing the body's defenses.

These stages must be completed exclusively as a whole.

Antiviral drugs are based on interferon, a specific protein that is produced by the human body in order to fight viruses. These drugs may contain ready-made interferon (“Anaferon”, “Laferon” and others) or stimulate its production directly by the body (“Amizon”, “Kagocel”). In particularly severe cases, intravenous immunoglobulins are prescribed to bind viruses and toxins.

There are two groups of anti-influenza drugs. The first is represented by Amantadine, Rimantadine and their analogs, the second by Zanamivir and Oseltamivir.

“Grip-Heel” is an antiviral immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory drug, which is available in the form of a 1.1 ml injection solution. It is prescribed for influenza and ARVI with high fever and for prevention. This drug has no side effects or contraindications. It should be prescribed at the very beginning of the disease, and after normalization it should be taken for a few more days.

Paracetamol and Ibufen have an antipyretic effect. “Cycloferon” is an antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory drug with a wide spectrum of biological activity. Available in the form of ampoules of 2 ml. The main active ingredient is acridone acetic acid (125 mg in 1 ampoule). The drug is effective for influenza and acute respiratory infections. It is prescribed to patients over 4 years of age. Sometimes it may be prescribed along with antibiotics and vitamins.

“Traumel S” is prescribed as a complex for any inflammation, including those caused by influenza and colds. The drug is available in the form of ampoules and tablets. But in ampoules, Traumeel S has a slightly better effect. It can be effectively combined with Lymphomyosot intravenously, but it can also be administered intramuscularly. A combination is known when “Lymphomyosot” together with “Echinacea compositum” is slowly administered intravenously. One such injection may be quite enough.

It is better to take vitamins in the form of pills and fruits, but in some cases, for better absorption of other drugs, vitamins are prescribed in the form of injections (“Vitaxon”, “Neurorubin” and others). In any case, it is better to treat flu and colds, if they occur without significant complications, without using injections.

We do the injections ourselves

This is not as difficult to do as it seems at first glance. First, you need to draw the medicine into the syringe and release excess air through the needle until there is a steady stream and there are no more air bubbles in the medicine. Important! Before taking the medicine, you need to warm it up in your hand for several minutes. After this, you should wipe the future injection site with alcohol.

Intramuscular injections are traditionally made into the upper outer quarter of the buttock, while driving the needle deeper into a little more than half. This must be done sharply and clearly. Then slowly and smoothly, with a non-shaking hand, introduce the contents. Quickly pull out the syringe and apply cotton wool.

Before giving an injection, it is better to practice on an inanimate object, but in extreme situations there may not be time for this.

Disease Prevention

Everyone knows that it is best not to get sick, but to prevent certain diseases in time. Prevention should be devoted to strengthening the immune system and increasing the body's defenses. It may include the following items:

  1. Taking vitamins (in medicinal form and in the form of fruits and vegetables).
  2. Mandatory rest after a hard day.
  3. Good healthy sleep.
  4. Morning work-out.
  5. Fresh air.
  6. Gradual hardening of the body: contrast shower, dousing with cold water. The main thing is to remember that you need to do this gradually.

Vaccinations can be used to prevent influenza during epidemics. These can be “Grippol”, “Agrippal”, “Vaxigrip”, “Begrivak” and others. Flu vaccinations are based on different strains, so it is advisable to vaccinate with different drugs each year. This will allow you to more reliably protect the body.

Antibiotics for flu and colds: what you need to know

Antibiotics are a very popular remedy for bacterial infections these days. And nothing much has changed in the minds of ordinary people since the last century. Just as they were considered a panacea for all ills, this is still the case today. But is it really so? Is it possible to cure, for example, a cold with antibiotics? What about the flu? In this article we will try to understand this topic.

What is an antibiotic?

If you look at the name of this kind of medicine, their purpose immediately becomes clear. The prefix “anti” indicates that the antibiotics fight something. And if you look at the second part of the word, it turns out that these are medicines that fight living organisms.

But this is very general. After all, not every living organism becomes a target for such drugs. In this regard, antibiotics for flu and colds are a very controversial topic. After all, everyone knows that the main causative agents of these diseases are viruses. And antibiotics are aimed primarily at bacteria. So we can safely say that this group of drugs fights bacteria.

Types of antibiotics

In total, there are two types of antibiotics according to their spectrum of action:

  • Broadly speaking, this is the most common group of antibacterial drugs and can kill a range of hostile microorganisms. When we go to the doctor and he prescribes us what we perceive as antibiotics for the flu and colds.
  • In a narrow sense, they are intended to treat bacterial infections in which the causative agent is clearly identified. This category of antibiotics is not so dangerous to health and it does not have so many side effects. But at the same time, they are poorly suited for treating, for example, complications of ARVI. After all, the latter can be caused by a number of microorganisms.

This is actually information for general education. You need to understand that when antibiotics are chosen for flu and colds, they are inherently more dangerous. And the reason for this is an attack that hits a number of your native bacteria that provide immunity.

Can a cold be treated with antibiotics?

Based on all of the above, the answer becomes very simple and clear: a cold cannot be treated with antibiotics. After all, the latter is caused by viruses. The effectiveness of such treatment necessarily takes on a negative sign in the long term. And it turns out that mothers who give their children antibiotics for the slightest sneeze are actually crippling them without realizing it.

In what cases should they really be used?

Despite this, in some cases the use of antibiotics is not only indicated, but also mandatory to preserve human life. When should this be done? Antibiotics cannot be used for flu and colds, but during complications it is necessary that they do not develop into much more life-threatening conditions. In general, there are really many possible complications of ARVI. Here are just some of them:

  1. Bronchitis. It seems like just a harmless disease. But in the long term, it can become chronic and then develop into a much more dangerous form. First it will be asthmatic bronchitis, and then it will become bronchial asthma. To prevent this, you need to take antibiotics.
  2. Pneumonia. It also does not form on its own, but often becomes a consequence of bronchitis. To prevent it, you not only need to treat it with antibiotics, but also provide a lot of walking outside, of course, if there is no temperature. A recumbent lifestyle can aggravate the course of any ARVI due to congestion in the lungs.
  3. Bronchial asthma. It can occur not only against the background of bronchitis, but also due to simply frequent ARVI. That's why they need to be treated to the end. Frequent relapses are a direct path to allergic processes in the respiratory tract.

These are only three diseases. There are also such unpleasant conditions as sinusitis or sinusitis, otitis media, rheumatoid arthritis, which are also complications of upper respiratory tract diseases. In general, a whole range of possible diseases. So it’s better not to lead to complications. Moreover, no one has canceled the harm caused by antibiotics.

What are the consequences of taking antibiotics during ARVI?

What will happen to the body if you are treated with antibiotics during an acute respiratory viral infection? In general, if this happens once, it’s okay. It may even seem to you that the patient’s condition has improved significantly. But this is only a placebo on his part or a natural recovery, which always occurs with ARVI. And so, if you constantly use antibiotics for colds and flu, then there may be such consequences.

  1. Reduced immunity. Our body contains a huge number of bacteria that become victims of broad-spectrum antibiotics. And since most microorganisms are found in the intestines, using antibiotics for colds and flu can lead to a significant decrease in immunity.
  2. Deterioration in the effectiveness of treatment with antibiotics of this group. Everything in our world can adapt, and microbes are no exception. Therefore, if you want to wonder what antibiotic to take for flu and colds, then it’s better not to even think about it. After all, over time, the bacteria will get used to shock doses of the medicine, and it will stop working on them, and you will have to switch to more severe antibiotics, which lead to the following consequence.
  3. Liver. Naturally, all people know that antibiotics mainly harm the liver, especially old people. Naturally, the same macrolides that are used in the treatment of the simplest complications of ARVI cannot cause such severe harm to this organ, but if they treat any cold, you will have to use more severe drugs. But then the blow to the liver will be significant.

So what you need to understand is that colds, flu and antibiotics simply don't mix. And don't even try to refute it.

How to treat viral infections?

Well, another question arises, how to treat a cold then, because it should not lead to complications. It all depends on how often you get sick. If this happens all the time, then you need to simply exercise more and walk outside at healthy intervals, everything will go away on its own.

But if you get sick quite rarely, then some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular mefenamic acid, will help support the immune system during ARVI. It is cheap and very effective in treating ARVI. Even a frequently ill person, under its influence, begins to catch colds less often. But it cannot be taken for a long time, no more than one course. Because any NSAIDs negatively affect the digestive system. And in combination with alcohol, this is, in general, a lethal force.

What antibiotics are best to take?

What antibiotics should I take for a cold? Colds, flu, ARVI - these are all diseases that can lead to complications. And if they have already happened, then it is best to start taking antibiotics such as macrolides. They are relatively harmless and yet effective. Azithromycin is a very good drug, and Erythromycin is also good.

These drugs are effective in treating complications. But under no circumstances self-medicate. You have no idea how serious the danger may be for your body. It is better if you feel unwell after you seem to have been cured, then consult a doctor. He will help. But the best antibiotics for colds and flu, or rather their complications, are those listed above.

conclusions

So we've covered a lot of things. In particular, we realized that asking which antibiotic is best for a cold should not be asked at all. But if exacerbations have already occurred, then at times it can save a life or prevent disability. But you still need to communicate more with the doctor and become an active participant in the treatment process. Only in this case can health be guaranteed. You should never self-medicate.

Source: http://neb0ley.ru/prostuda/antibiotiki-ot-grippa-i-prostudy-vzroslym.html