Is it bad to take an antibiotic when you don't have an infection per se...
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If it was bacteria, you wouldn't feel better and then worse, then better for days at a time etc. You'd either stay sick as your body battles to keep the bacteria at bay but can't clean it out and over time you'd likely suddenly get very ill as the bacteria eventually over comes your immune system.
You should go see an ENT.
Also keep in mind that some antibiotics have a steroidal effect associated with use. So taking them can provide relief even if you don't have a bacterial infection.
Some viral infections can last weeks.
Sudafed can cause a nasty rebound effect especially if you are dependent on it long term due to chronic allergies. It isn't the same thing as Afrin type medicines but your body can become dependent and rebound if you have been taking a lot of it for a long period of time and then stop or miss.
I took an antibiotic for several years -doxycycline -due to severe acne. However, one of the side effects (not known to me at the time) is weight gain. When I stooped using it (the acne is back), I lost 70 pounds over a period of years.
Antibiotics won't really hurt you outside of some possible side effects.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zymer
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.
Antibiotics are for killing *bacterial* infections. Antibiotics are indiscriminate killers, like bombs. Your body is host to a wide assortment of bacteria that perform *useful* functions, killing them off disturbs the normal functioning of the body, with potential long-term effects. In addition, harmful bacteria that are [usually] kept in check by the beneficial bacteria, which happen not to get killed off by the antibiotic may find themselves in a position to flourish in the absence of competition, with extremely serious [negative] results. Harmful bacteria which are not killed off, but are allowed to flourish and develop into new strains of antibiotic-resistant forms can be a *major* issue, both for the person harboring them...and others with whom he/she may come into contact, say, in a hospital setting where there are people whose systems are already compromised in some way.
One should NEVER take antibiotics without being reasonably sure that they have a bacterial infection that is likely to be eradicated with the *proper* antibiotic.
Antibiotics are for killing *bacterial* infections. Antibiotics are indiscriminate killers, like bombs. Your body is host to a wide assortment of bacteria that perform *useful* functions, killing them off disturbs the normal functioning of the body, with potential long-term effects. In addition, harmful bacteria that are [usually] kept in check by the beneficial bacteria, which happen not to get killed off by the antibiotic may find themselves in a position to flourish in the absence of competition, with extremely serious [negative] results. Harmful bacteria which are not killed off, but are allowed to flourish and develop into new strains of antibiotic-resistant forms can be a *major* issue, both for the person harboring them...and others with whom he/she may come into contact, say, in a hospital setting where there are people whose systems are already compromised in some way.
One should NEVER take antibiotics without being reasonably sure that they have a bacterial infection that is likely to be eradicated with the *proper* antibiotic.
Right. The OP may very well have a viral infection, for which the antibiotic would be completely useless. If you take antibiotics, you also risk getting conditions like c-diff and whatnot when the good bacteria in your gut are killed off.
In many cases, antibiotics are not given for ear infections anymore. It’s certainly not normal to have discharge from the ear, but a qualified medical professional needs to examine the ear to figure out what the problem is.
Ear pain subsided after 7 to 8 days. The Doc's office never contacted me back. Been taking Sudafed to dry the sinuses and fluid in the ears out. Been keeping the nasal passages moist with nasal spray. If the pain comes back will go to the walk in when symptoms first start to show signs.
I wasn't raised on antiobiotics and when we had issues like ear aches mom would pull out her bag of remedies...the old folks knew a lot. Today, it's antiobiotic for everything.
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