Do You Treat Viral Infections With Antibiotics – Think a good dose of antibiotics will knock that cold or flu out of you? Think again. Antibiotics, if prescribed and taken correctly, can usually kill bacteria, but are ineffective against viruses such as colds and flu.
Unlike bacteria, viruses generally require a vaccine to prevent them in the first place or antiviral drugs to treat them. Often, the only treatment for a viral infection is to let the disease run its course.
Do You Treat Viral Infections With Antibiotics
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that are everywhere—in the air, soil and water, on plants and in animals. Most bacteria—those in our intestines—are harmless. Some actually help by digesting food and destroying disease-causing microbes, according to the Mayo Clinic, which notes that less than 1 percent of bacteria cause disease in humans.
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Taking a prescribed course of antibiotics as directed by a doctor can kill the infection. Unfortunately, bacteria are adaptable and the overuse of antibiotics has helped create strains of bacteria that have grown resistant to antibiotics.
Viruses are smaller than bacteria and cannot survive without a living host. A virus attaches itself to cells and usually reprograms them to reproduce itself. Also, unlike bacteria, most viruses cause disease.
Viral infections require either vaccines to prevent them in the first place—such as the polio or measles vaccine—or antiviral medications to treat them.
Antiviral drugs, developed largely in response to the AIDS pandemic, do not destroy a virus but prevent its development. Antivirals are also available to treat some illnesses such as herpes simplex virus, the flu and shingles, according to Medical News Today.
Do I Need An Antibiotic?
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, and the Centers for Disease Control and other health organizations now recommend against using antibiotics unless there is clear evidence of a bacterial infection.
Most viral infections tend to resolve on their own without treatment, so any treatment is generally aimed at providing relief from symptoms such as pain, fever and cough.
Viruses and bacteria are tough. Not only can they cause similar symptoms, but many illnesses—such as pneumonia, meningitis, and diarrhea—can be caused by either a virus or bacteria.
Your doctor can often diagnose you through a medical history and physical exam. The doctor may order blood or urine tests or a spinal culture to help identify a viral or bacterial infection.
What Are Drug Resistant Infections?
According to doctors interviewed by health.com, most doctors consider four things when faced with a virus vs. bacteria question:
The CDC offers a long list of over-the-counter medications you can look to to relieve your symptoms. In addition to generally getting rest by drinking plenty of fluids, here are some of the easiest things for adults to follow:
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But if a few days pass and you still have persistent symptoms, make an appointment with your primary care physician. You may have a more serious viral or bacterial infection. Let’s look at the differences between the two, and the best way to treat them. Because trust us – there is a difference.
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Here is where things can get tricky. Because your treatment will depend on which of the three disease categories you fall into – bacterial, viral, or a mixture of both.
A virus is a particle that can take over and infect a healthy cell. Bacteria is a microorganism that can be found all around and inside you. Bacteria can be useful or cause disease.
Scheduling an appointment with your doctor can seem like an inconvenience, especially when they suggest an over-the-counter remedy. Or, in the case of a virus, you have to let it run until it is shed from your body. It’s tempting to always ask for an antibiotic, but it could do more harm than good.
When you overuse or misuse antibiotics, your body can become resistant to them. This means the next time you really need one, your body may not be able to fight off the disease as it should. Or in more serious cases, antibiotic resistance has led to the increase in infections that cannot be cured by antibiotics.
Treating Sinus Infections Without Antibiotics
Whether it’s a viral or bacterial disease – you don’t want it. Both make you feel the aches and pains we all dread this time of year. Now that you know the difference, you’ll be better prepared to know what your body needs to get you on the road to recovery.
Need a primary care doctor on hand during cold and flu season? Click here to find a doctor near you. Have you ever wondered why your doctor prescribes antibiotics for some illnesses and advises you to rest, drink fluids, and take over-the-counter medications?
Your treatment varies depending on the type of germ – either a bacteria or a virus – that caused your illness. Antibiotics are used only for bacterial infections; they are not effective for viral diseases.
Although bacteria and viruses are both microbes, they are different organisms that cause disease in our bodies in different ways.
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Viruses are not complete cells; they need a living host, such as a human, animal or plant, to survive. Much smaller than bacteria, viruses invade cells inside a host to reproduce. Most viruses will cause disease.
Bacteria, on the other hand, are usually single-celled organisms that can survive on their own. Most bacteria are harmless, and some types are beneficial to us, such as the bacteria in our gut that help us digest food. There are some strains, though, that cause disease.
The common cold, influenza (flu), and chicken pox are examples of viral infections. Viral diseases are contagious and can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing and other bodily fluids.
A bacterial infection usually stays in one area of your body, meaning it is a localized infection. If you’ve ever had a sinus infection, you’ve experienced the localized symptoms of this bacterial infection: congestion, sinus pressure and thick, green-yellow nasal discharge.
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Examples of bacterial infections include strep throat, some pneumonias, and urinary tract infections. Some bacterial infections – such as strep throat – are contagious, but many common bacterial infections are not. These include ear, sinus, bladder or kidney infections.
Viral infections usually have to be run, with treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and providing some relief while you are sick. Sometimes, antiviral medications are prescribed for specific infections, such as influenza (flu) and shingles.
Only bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. These drugs fight bacterial infections by either killing the bacteria or making it difficult for the bacteria to reproduce. It is important to only take antibiotics for bacterial infections and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully when taking these medications.
The unnecessary use of antibiotics is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance, which means that bacteria can avoid the effects of an antibiotic and still survive after treatment.
Virus Or Bacteria
According to the CDC, approximately 2.8 million people in the United States become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year.* Visit the CDC website to learn more about antibiotic resistance and what you can do to help fight it.
Good hygiene is very important in preventing any type of contagious infection, whether viral or bacterial. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and clean surfaces that come into contact with sick people. Cover your coughs and sneezes, and always stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading disease.
To prevent bacterial infection from wounds and blood, make sure you always clean and treat any cuts or scratches you have. Wash your wound gently with mild soap and water, use a topical ointment to aid healing, and cover it with a fresh bandage every day.
Another way to prevent the spread of the disease is through vaccination. Vaccines are available for a number of viral and bacterial infections. Most people begin routine vaccinations as infants and continue on a regular schedule throughout childhood and adolescence. Visit the CDC website to learn more about recommended vaccines by disease.
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Health Care Decisions Knowing the difference between viral and bacterial infections can help you make health care decisions and understand the treatment options your health care provider recommends. If you have symptoms of a cold, flu or other illness, visit your local center. Our friendly medical team can diagnose your condition and suggest an appropriate treatment to get you feeling better quickly.
*Source: Antibiotics / Antibiotic Resistance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated January 5, 2017. Accessed March 16, 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/Antibiotics are drugs that fight bacterial infections caused by humans and animals by either killing the bacteria or making it difficult for the bacteria to grow. and multiply.
Bacteria are microbes. They live in the environment and
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