When are antibiotics prescribed for the flu?

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Antibiotics for influenza in children

According to the results of a survey conducted by sociologists, more than 40% of Russians are absolutely sure that influenza and ARVI can be cured with antibiotics. This is nothing more than a common misconception.

Table of contents:

Antibiotics for influenza and ARVI, both in children and adults, are a completely useless medicine, and moreover, very harmful.

Diseases such as influenza and ARVI are caused by viruses that have entered the body, and antibiotics are powerless against most viruses. Their spectrum of action includes bacteria, fungi and opportunistic flora.

But the child is provided with the entire set of side effects that accompany the course of antibiotic treatment (dysbacteriosis, thrush, weakened immunity, anemia). Do you need extra ailments?

Influenza and acute respiratory viral infections should be treated exclusively with specially developed antiviral agents. At the discretion of doctors, they may prescribe expectorants, antitussives and immunomodulators. However, each of us has at least once encountered the fact that a visiting doctor, after diagnosing a child with “Flu,” prescribes antibacterial therapy for the child. What does it mean?

This in no way indicates the doctor’s incompetence. It’s just that, most likely, a bacterial infection has been added to the viral infection, but it is this that requires the use of antibiotics.

Another reason why a doctor may prescribe antibiotics for children with the flu is basic “reinsurance.” Suppose the doctor did everything correctly and prescribed an antiviral drug to the sick person. And after a few days, the babies begin to develop pneumonia or, worse, meningitis. Parents will certainly blame the doctor for inattentive treatment. Therefore, it is easier for the doctor to immediately prescribe antibiotics, thereby “protecting” himself.

It is no secret that viruses quite often cause various complications, and rare influenza occurs without accompanying bacterial infections. In addition, the main ability of any virus is a sharp decrease in human immunity, and most pathogenic bacteria simply cannot help but take advantage of the situation. The body of a patient with a viral infection is a very fertile soil for the life of bacteria. To stop their activity, the doctor prescribes antibiotics. In this case, the viral infection itself will have to be treated with other drugs.

What complications caused by influenza are treated with antibiotics:

  • Pneumonia. Pneumonia is a very serious complication of a viral infection. It occurs quite often, and in 100% of cases it will require treatment with antibiotics of the penicillin, cephalosporin family or macrolide group.
  • Otitis. Inflammation of the middle ear due to viral diseases is caused by the anatomical features of the structure of the ear. The special secretion produced by the cells of the organ must flow down the throat through the Eustachian tube, but during influenza or ARVI it swells and interferes with the release of secretions. As a result, bacteria begin to multiply directly in the middle ear, in a warm and nutritious environment. Otitis will also require treatment with antibiotics in 100% of cases. Moreover, these can be drops with an antibacterial composition, tablets, and even injections (in especially severe cases).
  • Pyelonephritis. Inflammation of the kidneys begins due to the ability of viruses, which we have already indicated, to reduce immunity. You may not immediately notice this dangerous disease, because with the flu, the temperature is usually already elevated, and aching and nagging pain in the lower back can easily be mistaken for muscle pain due to a viral infection. Treatment of kidney complications will require mandatory antibacterial therapy. Moreover, it will be adequate to the degree of organ damage.
  • Bronchitis. With a viral infection, inflammation of the upper bronchi (so-called open bronchitis) develops in every second sick child. The process is rapid, and treatment of this complication will also require antibiotics in combination with mucolytic drugs.
  • Sinusitis. The mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses is very similar in structure to the lining of the larynx, and in ARVI, as in acute respiratory infections, it is one of the first to be affected. Sinusitis that appears with the flu usually occurs in an acute form and does not become chronic. But its treatment will require strong antibiotics.
  • Myocarditis. Inflammation of the heart muscle can be caused by many of the known viruses, but most often a severe complication develops with influenza virus strains A and B. Moreover, viruses do not cause bacterial infection; they themselves infect the heart muscle. Antibiotics for viral myocarditis are prescribed at the discretion of the doctor, depending on the form and severity of the complication. The main treatment, as you probably already guessed, will be antiviral.
  • Meningitis. This is the most dangerous complication of influenza and ARVI. The membranes of the brain or spinal cord are affected by bacteria that actively multiply and multiply in the body weakened by the virus, in the absence of proper treatment for the form of influenza. Typically, the disease associated with influenza will be called viral (serous) meningitis. It is more common than bacterial. And it’s a little easier to treat. However, meningitis cannot be overcome without antibiotics.

Complications of influenza can appear in a child in other forms: lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph nodes), purulent tonsillitis.

Complications from influenza and ARVI do not always begin simultaneously with the course of a viral illness. Often, they can manifest themselves 7 or even 10 days after the end of antiviral treatment. If the doctor has concerns about the possible development of dangerous complications in the child, he will prescribe antibiotics without waiting for visible symptoms of the complication. Many scientists consider this approach outdated and inappropriate. Moreover, clinical trials have shown that taking antibiotics for the flu only increases the likelihood of complications.

How does this happen? It’s very simple: an antibiotic destroys flora, including beneficial ones, and pathogenic organisms feel very comfortable on “scorched” soil. It was even possible to measure and calculate this dependence - the likelihood of complications is almost 20% higher for those who nevertheless decided to take antibacterial agents during influenza or ARVI.

The doctor will be required to prescribe antibiotics for completely healthy children, but only if there is someone in their home who is sick, for example, with meningitis. This will be done for prevention. And it will be justified.

Complications of influenza and ARVI are dangerous primarily for children and the elderly. Elderly people and children who have not yet turned 3 years old suffer more severely from both the viral infection itself and its consequences.

When can you take antibiotics?

As we have already found out, there is no point in taking antibacterial drugs from the first day of a viral illness. But 5-6 days after the onset of the disease, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Why so late? The thing is that if there is no improvement in the child’s condition, it is after the fifth day of illness that we can talk about the likely development of bacterial complications.

Be sure to inform your doctor not only about the lack of improvement, but also about the deterioration of the condition if new symptoms appear against the background of elevated body temperature.

The main thing is to distinguish a bacterial cold from its viral counterpart. Everything here is more or less simple: a disease caused by viruses begins abruptly and develops rapidly. With a bacterial infection (this is essentially an acute respiratory infection), symptoms can appear gradually - today a runny nose, tomorrow a sore throat, and so on. In addition, viral infections are accompanied by high fever.

For bacterial colds, antibiotics are advisable. In this case, the doctor will prescribe a “children’s” (optimal for use by children) drug: “Ampicillin”, “Flemoxin Solutab”, “Esparoxy”, “Augmentin” and some others.

The list of antibiotic names that can be prescribed by a doctor to combat complications of the flu is long.

Let's look at some of them:

  • "Ticarcillin." This is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Widely used in the treatment of complications of viral infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, and sinusitis. The drug is contraindicated in premature babies with impaired renal function. For everyone else, Ticarcillin is prescribed strictly individually, the dosage is calculated based on the weight and age of the child. Due to a rather impressive list of side effects, they try not to prescribe this drug to children under 3 months.
  • "Cefadroxyl". First generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It can be prescribed for the treatment of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, kidneys, and also if complications of influenza manifest themselves in the form of conjunctivitis. The drug is prescribed to children weighing more than 40 kg at an average dose of 1-2 grams per day in 2 divided doses. For children whose weight is less than 40 kilograms, Cefadroxil is recommended in a PMG suspension per 1 kilogram of the child’s weight per day.
  • Azithromycin. Antibiotic – azalide. It is prescribed for the treatment of complications of influenza and ARVI in children, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis, pneumonia, bronchitis. Children weighing more than 10 kg: on the first day of administration - 10 mg per 1 kilogram of weight, from the second day and in the next 4 days - 5 mg per kilogram of the child's weight. The drug has a rather convenient release form - it can be bought in tablets (for children over 6 years old), capsules (for teenagers) or in syrup (for kids).
  • "Josamycin". A bright representative of the macrolide group. Available in tablets and suspension. Suitable for the treatment of otitis, sinusitis, acute bronchitis, pneumonia. For children under 14 years of age, the dose is from 30 to 50 mg per kilogram of the child’s body weight. The resulting amount is divided into three equal parts; Josamycin should be taken three times a day. The average dose for adolescents over 14 years of age is 1 gram per day, also in three doses.
  • "Esparoxy." This macrolide antibiotic is widely used in pediatrics for the treatment of bacterial complications of influenza such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and otitis media. For children under 12 years of age, the dosage should be determined by a doctor. Under no circumstances should you try to do this yourself. For adolescents over 12, the dose is equal to an adult – 150 mg. twice a day.
  • "Ampicillin." This semi-synthetic representative of the penicillin series has proven effective in the treatment of sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Available in the form of tablets, granules for self-preparation of suspension, dry substance for injection. Children who weigh less than 20 kilograms are prescribed a maximum of 25 mg per kilogram of weight per day. If the child weighs more than 20 kilos, the dosage of Ampicillin will increase for every kilogram of the child’s weight. When treating meningitis in low birth weight newborns (weighing less than two kilograms at birth), the drug is prescribed intravenously at 25 mg per kg of body weight every 12 hours.
  • "Flemoxin Solutab". Broad-spectrum antibiotic of the penicillin series. This antibiotic can rightfully be called one of the most favorite among pediatricians. The fact is that the formula of the drug allows it to quickly and effectively cope with most complications that occur in a child after or during the flu. Flemoxin is especially often prescribed for bronchitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis. For children under 1 year of age, the daily dose is mg per kilogram of the child’s body weight. This amount is divided into 2-3 doses. Children from one to 3 years old can take 375 mg twice a day or 250 mg three times a day. Children over 10 years old – mg three times a day. Moreover, the more severe the complication, the greater the number of antibiotics taken. That is, for moderate otitis, it is enough to take the medicine twice a day, and for purulent otitis, you need to divide the daily dose into three approaches.
  • "Augmentin". An effective antibiotic of the penicillin family. Augmentin copes well with bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and pyelonephritis. The drug is available in the form of powder for suspension, tablets and dry mixture for injection. Children from 0 to 2 months old can only be given an antibiotic in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor. For children under 2 years old, the doctor himself calculates the dosage, for children from 2 to 6 years old the drug will be prescribed at an average dose of 5 ml, and for children aged 7-12 years the dose will be increased to 10 ml. In case of severe complications, the doctor may double the indicated figures.

You can learn how and in what cases antibiotics are required from the following video. The popular children's doctor Komarovsky comments.

According to recipes

Until recently, antibiotics could be bought at any pharmacy, and people actively used these drugs, treated with them everything they could and everything they couldn’t, for example, they started taking antibiotics for the flu and giving them to their children.

Doctors and scientists sounded the alarm and came up with a proposal to the legislature to ban antibiotics from the public market. Now antibacterial drugs can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription. Is this better? Time will tell. In any case, caring parents have been deprived of the opportunity to give their child antibiotics for any sneeze.

What medications should I take for influenza or ARVI?

Antiviral drugs containing interferon have proven to be most effective in the treatment of influenza and ARVI. They make the body's cells immune to the virus and also stimulate the immune system. But they have one big, in my opinion, disadvantage - all antiviral drugs perfectly resist viruses only if they are started in advance, i.e. even before contracting the flu. If you start taking such drugs at the same time as you have symptoms of a viral disease, the effect of the medications will be limited.

Many children's doctors, including Dr. Komarovsky, universally beloved by the mothers of our country, believe that there is no need to fight influenza and ARVI as such with pills and injections at all; the child’s body must learn to overcome the virus on its own. Only complications of influenza, if any, require treatment.

General rules of treatment for influenza:

  • Mandatory bed rest. It will avoid serious complications and enable parents to notice in time if a complication begins to develop.
  • The child must be provided with access to fresh air; do not forget to ventilate the room. You should not close all the windows and bundle up your baby; overheating during the flu in children contributes to the development of complications.
  • Abundant drinking regime. The baby's body needs water to avoid the accumulation of toxins. You can give tea, including herbal tea, a decoction of rose hips, chamomile, and sage.
  • If there is a high temperature due to influenza or ARVI, the child must be given antipyretic drugs. Bacterial infections, which also occur with an increase in temperature, do not require artificial reduction of fever. Based on the time the temperature normalizes, they look at the effectiveness of the antibiotic. With a virus, the picture is the opposite.
  • For muscle pain, your child can be given painkillers.
  • If a bacterial infection nevertheless joins a viral infection, and the complication manifests itself in all its glory, during antibiotic treatment do not forget about drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora “Linnex”, “Bifidumbacterin”, etc., in order to prevent the development of dysbiosis in the child . The baby’s body, already significantly weakened first by viruses and then by bacterial infection, needs protection.
  • Never self-medicate. Both the diagnosis of “flu” and its possible complications must be confirmed by a doctor, otherwise you, by experimenting on your baby yourself, risk crippling his immune system, heart, brain, musculoskeletal system and respiratory organs with improper treatment.

In the following short video, children's doctor Komarovsky gives recommendations for treating influenza.

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Source: http://www.o-krohe.ru/antibiotiki/pri-grippe/

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. 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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Video

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 influenza

Some people believe that antibiotics for the flu are the best and even the only treatment, but this is far from true. Yes, sometimes these medications can indeed be indispensable for combating acute respiratory viral infections when it is necessary to cope with complications and bacterial infections.

But you should never take them just like that and without a doctor’s permission. Otherwise, instead of recovery, you will encounter a lot of serious troubles and will only complicate the situation. So it’s worth talking about the rules for using antibiotics for the flu in more detail, indicating, if possible, all the indications, contraindications, results and side effects.

How do medications work?

If you take an antibiotic drug on your own initiative, you can harm yourself. However, a remedy correctly selected by a qualified doctor will help not only cure influenza infection, but also prevent its development (that is, it is taken for prophylaxis).

It should be noted that antibiotics that are used for influenza in adults are highly specialized agents that suppress bacterial infections. They act as follows: they destroy bacterial walls or prevent bacteria from developing and multiplying.

The truly effective ones are those that inhibit neurominidase, as a result of which the virion does not attach to the cell membrane.

Influenza viruses should not be considered cellular organisms, since they do not have cell walls. You can even say that they do not live, since no chemical reactions occur inside them. Accordingly, it is impossible to kill them as such, especially since viruses have protective shells. But it is actually possible to destroy this shell by deactivating, that is, breaking down the proteins located on its surface. This will prevent the virus from attaching to healthy cells and infecting them.

Antibiotics that are used in the treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections do not have the ability to break down viral proteins, that is, they do not have any effect on the activity of the infection.

However, there are exceptions: some tetracyclines have the ability to break down proteins on the shells of large viruses (for example, adenoviruses). But observing such an effect is only possible in a research tube in which the antibiotic is mixed with a solution containing viral particles.

Why can't you take antibiotics when you have the flu? It turns out that it is possible and even necessary, but only in cases where there is a doctor’s sanction. It is impossible to choose just one best drug, since each has its own indications and contraindications.

How to start treatment?

Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, as a rule, does not begin with antibiotics, since these drugs do not penetrate infected cells and do not have a direct effect on the course of the disease.

It is much more logical to take antiviral drugs (such as Tamiflu), as well as resort to methods of symptomatic therapy in order to quickly rid yourself of the main symptoms of the disease, which seriously impair the quality of life.

The very name of this series of drugs, “antibiotics,” consists of syllables such as “anti,” as well as “bio,” which means “to destroy life.” Viruses, as mentioned above, cannot be considered living organisms in the full sense of the word (despite certain signs of living things). Virions are not even able to reproduce on their own, unlike bacteria - this is done by the cells in which they settle.

In addition, influenza viruses are prone to constant mutations - it’s not for nothing that new vaccines are made against them every year.

About uncontrolled use of antibiotics

Sometimes people believe that an antibiotic for acute respiratory viral infections in adults and children can prevent the development of complications if the appropriate remedy is taken at the very beginning of the disease. But the opposite happens: premature (and, especially, uncontrolled) use of such powerful drugs can contribute to the onset of serious problems.

These medications are primarily aimed at destroying pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria) already present in a person. They leave the human body soon after administration (a day or a couple of days at most), after which the immune system is again susceptible to the effects of bacteria. However, the time during which the product is inside is sufficient to destroy a large number of bacteria (in fact, as well as to cause some damage to the patient’s immune defense).

Can I take antibiotics for the flu? With appropriate medical prescription, yes. But it should be borne in mind that after their use there may be certain side effects - the same digestive disorders, for example, since the drugs disrupt the intestinal microflora and the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract.

That is why all doctors, at the same time as antibiotics, prescribe probiotics, which protect the immune system from such damage and manage to restore impaired functions. Symbiotic bacteria that enter the body along with probiotics are the main competitors of pathogenic microorganisms and do not even allow them to gain a foothold in the same respiratory tract (as a result, they are protected from further infection).

But if you take antibiotics alone (and, especially, for preventive purposes), you will simply destroy all bacteria in the nose and throat (including useful ones), after which any viral infection can settle here.

Without a doctor's prescription, such medications during the flu can create favorable conditions for a weakened immune system to be susceptible to infection. On the other hand, it is these medicines, when applied “on the spot”, that turn out to be the very “magic wand”, thanks to which it is possible to cope with the disease and its complications. Sometimes complications begin after the flu.

How are antibiotics chosen?

Do I need to take antibiotics for the flu? If a bacterial complication develops, yes.

But only a doctor can diagnose the presence of such a complication - it is likely that he will need to send the patient for tests (since it is impossible to determine bronchitis or pneumonia by external symptoms). In addition to a blood test, they may send you for an x-ray or bacterial test.

The same x-ray allows you to see exactly what the nature of pneumonia is - viral and bacterial.

But there are certain symptoms that can indicate that complications have occurred and require diagnosis by a medical specialist:

  • inability to reduce fever (over 38.5 degrees) for more than five days;
  • sudden temperature changes even in cases where it was possible to get rid of the fever for a short time;
  • the presence of severe migraine (this symptom may be a sign of meningitis);
  • breathing problems - shortness of breath, irregular rhythm;
  • periodic fainting.

What antibiotics should I take for influenza and ARVI? For both adults and children, there is a fairly large list of medications that can be taken to treat complications of colds:

  • Penicillins;
  • Cephalosporins (often prescribed by injection);
  • Penicillins containing clavulanic acid;
  • Macrolides;
  • Aminoglycosides and so on.

The choice of one or another remedy is made by the doctor based on:

  • patient's condition;
  • age of the patient;
  • test results;
  • medications he is already taking or has taken before.

Should influenza be treated with antibiotics? Yes, if qualified doctors prescribe these medications. But you shouldn’t experiment with your health on your own.

Types of Medicines

What antibiotic drugs should I take for the flu? There are several types of medications that are considered the most effective:

  • Macrolides. They are especially good at helping to cope with inflammatory processes. Usually one tablet twice a day is enough.
  • Penicillins. Ultra-sensitive agents with a wide spectrum of action. Take one tablet once a day. Although the dosage can be adjusted by your doctor.
  • Cephalosporins. One of the most famous drugs in this series is Ceftriaxone. Such drugs have an antimicrobial effect. Often administered intramuscularly. The dosage is determined by a medical specialist.
  • Fluoroquinolones. These agents successfully cope with gram-negative bacteria, penetrating the cellular structure and affecting pathogenic microorganisms that have settled there. Medicines are considered anti-allergic.

At the pharmacy you can find out other names of antibiotics that are taken or prescribed to be injected when treating the flu. But only the doctor decides what exactly to take.

As for the probiotics that need to be taken to restore the intestinal microflora, these are, first of all, Linex and Bioyogurt.

The most popular drugs

When antibiotics are prescribed for the flu, we found out how they help too. Now it remains to find out which of them inject (drink) most often.

Sumamed

A fairly powerful drug that copes with a variety of diseases caused by bacterial infections.

The standard dosage involves taking one tablet per day. The duration of treatment is determined by a medical specialist.

Amoxiclav

Does the drug Amoxiclav help with ARVI? This medicine successfully combines semisynthetic penicillin with clavulanic acid and amoxicillin.

Anyone over 12 years of age can take a 250-milligram tablet every 8 hours or a 500-milligram tablet every 12 hours.

Thus, it will be possible to cure an infection that has a mild or moderate course.

If the course of the disease is severe and the respiratory tract is affected, you need to take a 500-milligram tablet every 8 hours, and also a tablet every 12 hours. Only 3 tablets per day.

These tablets are not prescribed to children under 12 years of age. So this medicine definitely cannot be called a children's medicine.

The maximum dosage should not exceed 600 milligrams for an adult and 10 milligrams per kilogram of weight for a child.

The duration of the treatment course can be from 5 to 14 days, although a more specific period is determined by a medical specialist.

The drug has certain side effects:

  • decreased appetite;
  • feeling of nausea;
  • pain in the abdomen;
  • skin rash;
  • dizziness;
  • sleep problems;
  • convulsions.

All this should be taken into account.

Erythromycin

For flu and colds, Erythromycin can also be prescribed. This product is available in tablets, eye ointment, and also in powder form for preparing a solution.

Anyone over 14 years old should drink no more than 2 grams per day. Moreover, at least 6 hours should pass between doses.

In the most severe cases, the dosage is increased to 4 grams.

Young children need to drink 50 milligrams per kilogram twice a day. At the discretion of the doctor, the dose may be increased. So this medicine can be given to a child if there is permission and instructions from the doctor. You should not decide on your own whether these antibiotics are needed or not.

Flu is treated with a variety of medications, not just one of them. For a quick recovery and avoiding consequences, complex therapy is necessary.

As for choosing the right antibiotic, it’s not even a matter of price. Sometimes inexpensive medications are quite effective. The doctor, first of all, looks at the individual characteristics of the patient’s health, the strength of his immune system, and checks whether possible side effects will worsen the already not very good condition of the body.

On what day are such drugs usually prescribed? Not until serious complications of the flu begin.

Naturally, for cancer patients, pregnant women, women during lactation and people with weak immunity, a separate course of antibiotics is prescribed.

Source: http://gripptips.ru/preparatyi/antibiotiki-pri-grippe.html

Antibiotics for flu and colds

In this article, we will talk about whether taking antibiotics is effective in treating flu and colds.

Do I need to take antibiotics during the flu?

First of all, it must be said that taking antibacterial drugs during the flu is not recommended or is pointless, since acute viral infections in 90 - 95% of cases are caused by influenza viruses, as a result of which the effect of antibiotics in this case is not effective in the fight against the resulting infection.

Therefore, for the treatment of influenza and ARVI, it is recommended first of all to take antiviral drugs (anaferon, aflubin, rimantadine, amizon), which have a fairly wide spectrum of action against many infectious agents of influenza and colds.

Antiviral drugs can be prescribed both for the prevention and treatment of influenza for a sufficiently long period of time (sickness), which should be taken 1 volume 1 - 2 times a day.

Attention: before taking antiviral medications, it is recommended to consult with a general practitioner in order to prevent the development of unwanted complications.

When should you take antibiotics for the flu?

Antibiotics are prescribed in cases where an acute viral infection is accompanied by a bacterial complication (angina, laryngotracheitis, acute bronchitis, pneumonia), requiring treatment with antibacterial agents (amoxil, azithromycin, biseptol, amoxiclav, clarithromycin).

It is recommended to use antibiotics during the flu for the following symptoms:

  • soreness, soreness or discomfort in grief;
  • severe pain when swallowing caused by acute pharyngitis or laryngitis;
  • acute inflammatory process, manifested by shooting or pain in the ear cavity (otitis);
  • significant enlargement and tenderness of the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes;
  • high body temperature over 39, which lasts more than a day;
  • pain in the chest area, aggravated by deep inhalation of air;
  • rash, lack of voice caused by sore throat;
  • prolonged lacrimation associated with acute conjunctivitis (inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the eye).

It is recommended to take antibiotics for the flu only after a mandatory individual examination of the patient by a doctor, who, if necessary, will prescribe the necessary, appropriate treatment. The main course of antibacterial therapy, as a rule, is no more than one day, depending on the severity of the disease.

What antibiotics should I take for the flu?

Today, there are a huge number of different, quite effective antibacterial drugs that are prescribed for internal (oral) administration in the development of serious complications of influenza and colds, but not all of them, unfortunately, have a good antimicrobial effect in the fight against infection.

Some of the most effective antibiotics for influenza are drugs that exhibit a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action (amoxil, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, amoxiclav, cefotaxime, ampiox, clarithromycin, penicillin). It is recommended to take antibiotics only after an individual prescription from your attending physician - a general practitioner, who will select the most suitable antibiotic for your body and prescribe a certain course of drug treatment (on average 5 - 7 days, 1 t. 1 - 2 rubles per day after meals).

Remember: simultaneously with the use of antibacterial drugs, it is necessary to simultaneously drink probiotics - biological agents that restore normal intestinal microflora after long-term use of antibiotics (bioyogurt, Linex 1 t. 3 - 4 rubles per day).

For children, antibiotics for the treatment of influenza should best be prescribed in the form of syrup (Inspiron, Augmentin, Ospamoxr. per day). The course of treatment and dose of the drug should be prescribed by a pediatrician after a full examination of the child.

What antibiotics should I take for a cold?

Treatment of a cold with antibiotics, as well as for the flu, should be carried out when an acute viral disease is suddenly accompanied by a bacterial complication (purulent sore throat, bronchitis, tracheitis) causing a significant weakening of the body’s immunity, as well as manifesting itself as a severe and painful cough , constant sore throat and a significant increase in body temperature.

Taking antibiotics for a cold is advisable only when the doctor has examined the patient and has identified the presence of a secondary bacterial infection in the body caused by a cold; self-prescription of antibiotics without prior consultation with a general practitioner is strictly contraindicated.

The prescription of antibiotics depends on the degree and form of severity of the bacterial complication, and the doctor must select the most sensitive series of antibacterial drugs for a particular infectious agent.

There are quite a large number of antibiotics for treating colds, the most effective of which are:

  • macrolides (azithromycin, amoxilicin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, amoxiclav) are among the best, widely used antibacterial agents for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases. You need to take medications 1 t. 1-2 r. per day, depending on the doctor’s orders;
  • penicillins (augment, ampiox, ampicillin) are fairly sensitive antibacterial drugs with a broad spectrum of action. It is recommended to take antibiotics 1 t. 1 r. in a day. The course of treatment and dose of the drug are prescribed by the attending physician depending on the severity of the disease;
  • Cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefazolin) are very effective antibacterial drugs with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action. Medicines are prescribed mainly for intramuscular administration, and the main course of treatment and dose of the drug are prescribed exclusively by the attending physician.

You must always remember that long-term use of antibiotics for colds should be simultaneously accompanied by the use of probiotics - medications that help restore normal intestinal microflora (Linex, bio-yogurt), which under the influence of antibiotics quickly dies, which can provoke the development of intestinal dysbiosis.

The best antibiotics for colds

  • sumamed is a strong and very effective antibacterial drug that is prescribed for a variety of bacterial inflammatory diseases, including in the complex treatment of complicated colds. It is recommended to take 1 t. 1 r. in a day. The course of treatment depends on the form and severity of the disease;
  • amoxiclav is one of the best antibiotics for treating serious complications of colds and flu. The medicine should be taken 1 t. 1-2 r. per day only as prescribed by the attending physician;
  • Suprax is a fairly strong and very sensitive antibiotic for the treatment of many bacterial inflammatory processes. Prescribed exclusively by the attending physician at his discretion. As a rule, the drug is taken 1 t. 1 r. per day;
  • Avelox is a widespread and very effective antibacterial drug that is prescribed for many bacterial inflammatory diseases. The course of treatment and dose of the drug are prescribed strictly by the attending physician, while the daily dose for administration is generally 1 t. 1 r. in a day.

Antibiotics for children with colds

The selection and prescription of a children's antibacterial drug for the treatment of complicated bacterial colds should only be done by a pediatrician, while self-medication with antibiotics is strictly contraindicated, since this can lead to very serious and serious consequences for the child's body.

Just as for adults, any long-term use of antibiotics must be combined with regular intake of probiotics, which normalize the normal intestinal microflora of the child. The most common probiotic is Linex, which should be taken 2-3 times a day. per day for at least days.

The best antibiotics for colds for children are:

  • Augmentin is a very common children's antibiotic with a broad spectrum of action against a variety of bacterial pathogens. The drug can be given to a child, both in the form of syrup and in tablets, while the main course and dose of the drug is prescribed by the pediatrician depending on the course of the disease;
  • amoxiclav is the best antibiotic for children with severe bacterial complications of influenza and colds. It is mainly used in the form of a soluble syrup, the dose of which is calculated depending on the age and weight of the child;
  • Ampiox is an effective antibacterial drug for children, having a wide spectrum of action against most bacterial pathogens. The course and dose of the drug is prescribed exclusively by the pediatrician, depending on the situation;
  • Azithromycin is a strong children's antibiotic that is prescribed for serious bacterial complications, including those caused by colds or flu. The medicine is used 1 t. 1-2 r. per day exclusively as prescribed by the attending physician.

There are several specific groups of antibiotics for colds that are not recommended for use in childhood:

  • tetracycline;
  • doxycycline;
  • ofloxacin;
  • perloxacin.

Also, do not forget, before taking antibacterial medications for colds and flu, be sure to consult with a general practitioner in order to prevent the development of unwanted complications (allergic reactions, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the cardiovascular system, various neurological disorders).

In this article, we reviewed the basic recommendations for the use of antibiotics for flu and colds.

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routine vaccination with Ultrix. But he has a heart defect, please tell me whether he can be vaccinated and whether preliminary

consultation with some specialist?

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