| There is no question that some infections are | | | | kinds of side effects. You should never try to select |
| frightening as well as dangerous. It should come as | | | | antibiotics and dosing schedules for yourself. At the |
| no surprise that some people will look for chemical | | | | very least, your doctor will be able to make use of a |
| means to boost their immune system. In particular, | | | | variety of guidelines and diagnostic tools to make |
| they may mistakenly believe that it is safe to take | | | | sure that you get an antibiotic that is safe and |
| antibiotics, even when they do not have an infection. | | | | effective for you. |
| Unfortunately, this practice leads to all kinds of | | | | Finally, you also need to give some thought to the |
| problems for the individuals, as well as society. | | | | larger picture, when you are talking about antibiotics. |
| Consider a situation in which you are afraid of getting | | | | When penicillin was first discovered, many bacteria |
| a staph infection. As you read information posted on | | | | were susceptible to it. It is important to realize that |
| various websites, you may well start to believe that | | | | bacteria are just like any other living organism. They |
| every paper cut or scratch on your body will turn | | | | will evolve and adapt in order to survive. Today, |
| into the site of a major bacterial infection. While this | | | | there are many strains of bacteria that are resistant |
| prospect is frightening enough, "preventive" antibiotic | | | | to penicillin, as well as many other antibiotics. The |
| treatments are much worse. In fact, if you take just | | | | more antibiotics are used for inappropriate reasons, |
| a few moments to talk to your doctor, you will | | | | the faster bacteria will evolve in order to survive. |
| understand why this practice is so dangerous. | | | | Each time doctors prescribe an antibiotic, they do so |
| To begin, it is important to realize that bacteria come | | | | with the understanding that a number of processes |
| in different strains. This is no different than having | | | | will take place within your body. While some people |
| different breeds of cats and dogs. Oddly enough, | | | | believe that antibiotics can take the place of the |
| one strain of bacteria may be resistant to antibiotics, | | | | immune system, it is simply not true. The only thing |
| while others will not. As a result, if you are trying to | | | | antibiotics can do is help kill off enough micro |
| prevent an infection by using antibiotics, you would | | | | organisms, in order to give your immune system a |
| have to make sure that you know exactly which | | | | chance to fight on its own. When it comes right |
| strain of bacteria you are dealing with. Without | | | | down to it, there are very few situations in which a |
| question, you will not be able to determine this, to | | | | doctor will prescribe antibiotics as a preventive |
| any degree of certainty, prior to becoming infected. | | | | treatment. Therefore, if you are thinking about taking |
| Even though antibiotics help to save millions of lives | | | | this course of action, you should first speak with |
| each year, they are also very dangerous drugs. | | | | your doctor, in order to get the correct information |
| When used too frequently, they can strip your | | | | as to how your body operates, as well as how |
| intestines of good bacterial and create many harmful | | | | antibiotics work in relation to it. |