3 W’s (What, Why and When) of Antibiotics you must know

Premature deaths and disabling complications were an accepted norm in patients with bacterial infections before the discovery of Penicillin. The discovery of antibiotics changed this trend, which led to an increased life expectancy and reduced mortality from infection-related causes.

This article on antibiotics will take you through many crucial facts about types of medicines for bacterial infections, reasons for the development of resistance to treatment, and their side effects.

What are antibiotics, and why are they needed?

They are the molecules that fight against bacterial infections either by killing the bacteria or stopping their multiplication and growth. These medications are an aid to the human immune system which is continuously working to keep the body’s resistance at optimum levels to prevent any bacteria from causing serious infections.

Doctors prescribe these medications to treat bacterial infections. The disease-causing bacteria can make you feel sick causing mild to moderate symptoms. Antibiotics help the body in combating these infections effectively.

When are antibiotics needed?

They are required when the body’s immune system fails to counter the infection-causing bacteria leading to a breach and multiplication of these bacteria producing high bacterial counts in the body.

Nonetheless, antibiotics are not needed for every infection. There is no role of antibiotics in viral and parasitic infections. Also, some infections are self-limiting, meaning that the body can take care of them on its own without any external assistance.

What are the uses of antibiotics?

Antibiotics are used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections affecting the skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tract. They are prescribed as a course to be taken for a few days at certain dosing frequency and intervals.

The most popularly prescribed antibiotics to treat infections are penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, chloramphenicol, lincosamides, nitrofurans, and aminoglycosides.

When do you actually use antibiotics? What is antibiotic resistance?

The efficient and adequate usage of antibiotics is extremely important and critical. Approach a healthcare professional who will decide its suitability and applicability for you.

Sir Alexander Fleming had famously observed that ”The thoughtless person playing with penicillin treatment is morally responsible for the death of the man who succumbs to infection with the penicillin-resistant organism” Taking antibiotics only when they are needed, in appropriate dose and duration is the only way to avoid antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance’ literally means that the bacteria have found ways to evade being killed by the antibiotic and show no response to it. Their proliferation is unabated, leading to the spread of infection and manifestation of severe symptoms of the disease. Another reason for such resistance is taking an incomplete antibiotic course due to improvement in symptoms, which leads to residual infection and regrowth of bacteria.

Therefore, never stop taking antibiotics unless their course is completed or your doctor advises you to do so.

What are the side effects of antibiotics? And do they cause allergies?

Antibiotics can have a few undesirable effects. Those that are frequently noted are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion, abdominal pain and loss of appetite.

Occasionally, allergic reactions, such as itchy skin, coughing, wheezing and trouble breathing are also reported which mandate urgent attention and stoppage of the particular antibiotic causing it.

Conclusion

Antibiotics are essential life-saving medicines. They not only help to prevent severe diseases due to bacteria but also improve the quality of life by avoiding the development of complications related to these diseases.

Though few side effects and rare allergic reactions can occur, the risk-benefit ratio clearly tilts in favour of their use in conditions where the body is unable to counter bacterial infections on its own. However, their irrational use has led to the emergence of resistance in bacteria against them, which is of serious concern and needs urgent strategic redressal.

Taking advice from a healthcare professional regarding their correct usage is of primordial importance. Take the antibiotics as per the prescribed dosage and duration. This will not only help you recover early but will also go a long way in preventing the development of antibiotic resistance.