Bronchitis: Antibiotics Usage

The right medication is important to cure an illness, but it's also important to have a reliable source of medication, like your family doctor. Antibiotics work fast to slow or stop the growth of bacteria. Which antibiotic to use depends on which bacteria is causing your illness. For bronchitis, there may be one of several best antibiotics, depending on the severity and status of the illness, and which bacteria is proliferating most.

Bronchitis is a respiratory illness that causes the lining of the bronchial tubes to become inflamed. The condition may be acute bronchitis, which is usually caused by viruses and bacteria and lasts a short time. Bronchitis can also be chronic in nature, where too much mucus is secreted and a cough caused by years of smoking or exposure to infectious agents, and chronic bronchitis can last much longer: from several months to years.

Antibiotics for chronic bronchitis should only prescribed by doctors when needed. Most cases of acute bronchitis do not benefit from antibiotics, because acute bronchitis is mostly caused by viruses, not the bacteria. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, so most doctors don't prescribe antibiotics for virus-caused acute bronchitis. The effectiveness of antibiotics for acute bronchitis is is almost none, compared to the side-effects that these antibiotics may bring. Many common side effectsof antibiotics are nausea, sore mouth, vomiting, skin rashes, diarrhea, headache, easy sunburn and vaginal yeast infection. After treatment with antibiotics, lots of yogurt is recommended to bring back the natural flora in the intestines.

The repeated use of antibiotics can lead to bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, because bacteria can mutate in ways to form breeds that can survive antibiotics; that means that antibiotics may not work next time, and the bacteria can grow and spread. Because most antibiotics are expensive, in these cases, the costs may not be worth the benefits. Acute bronchitis normall stops on its own in two to three weeks if you just drink lots of water and juices and get enough rest.

Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics because some help certain bacterial infections associated with bronchitis, even though they don't work directly on the bronchitis. They sometimes help decrease the duration of the cough. There are some antibiotics known to treat both acute and chronic bronchitis and also prescribed for some other illnesses. Ampicillin is often used to treat infections that can result from acute bronchitis. The antibiotic Trimethoprim can be used for infections in the respiratory tract. Telithromycin is used to treat mild to moderate infections in the respiratory system. Azithromycin and Amoxicillin are claimed to be effective treatment for bacterial infections causing bronchitis.

When you take antibiotics, please be aware of the adverse effects they can cause. Take the precaution of consulting your doctor about the severity of your bronchitis before starting antibiotics, and then take the antibiotics only as prescribed. Do not stop or miss doses. It is also important to consult your Obstetrician or gynecologist, if you are pregnant.

Many experts don't advise taking antibiotics for acute bronchitis, especially if you don't have other medical problems. Not taking antibiotics when it isn't needed for acute bronchitis may not only save you from potential side-effects but also from expenses that aren't necessary.

This article was written by Jim Krage of Healing Energy News .com.