are antibiotics useless for bronchitis?
957173
not useless.. just not recommended for viral infections\n\n\nBy far the majority of bronchitis cases stem from viral infections. This means that most cases of bronchitis are short-term and require nothing more than treatment of symptoms to relieve discomfort. \n\n\nAntibiotics will not cure a viral illness. \n\n\nExperts in infectious diseases have been warning for years that overuse of antibiotics is allowing many bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics available. \n\n\nDoctors often prescribe antibiotics because they feel pressured by people’s expectations to receive them. This expectation has been fueled by both misinformation in the media and marketing by drug companies. Don’t expect to receive a prescription for an antibiotic if your infection is caused by a virus. \n\n\nAcetaminophen (Feverall, Panadol, Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil) will help with fever and muscle aches. \n\n\nDrinking fluids is very important because fever causes the body to lose fluid faster. Lung secretions will be thinner and thus easier to clear when you are well hydrated. \n\n\nA cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can help decrease bronchial irritation. \n\n\nAn over-the-counter cough suppressant may be helpful. Preparations with guaifenesin (Robitussin, Breonesin, Siltussin) will loosen secretions; dextromethorphan (Benylin, Pertussin, Trocal, Vicks 44) suppresses cough.
554968
the bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics have adapted to their environment in such a way that they are immune to the antibiotics that threaten them.\n\nif most bacteria adapted to antibiotics then many people would die. it all depends on how strong our own immune system is and how quickly an immune response occurs. bottom line: antibiotics would be useless and we will be forced to fight off infections with our own immune system.
464964
Just because you have a cough and a sore throat doesn't mean an antibiotic will help. If it hangs on for more than a week w/out getting better see your doctor. If it is bacterial they can give you antibiotics. If it is viral you will just have to wait it out.
870482
No, only antibiotics.
134032
Antibiotics are not bad for you if used correctly.  They are bad if used inappropriately.  First, all drugs have side effects.  Antibiotics can give you GI symptoms, harm your kidneys, cause allergic reactions, etc.  But the more insidious side effect is the development of resistance.  Every time you use an antibiotic, you are challenging the bacterial flora in your body to a noxious agent.  Bacteria can mutate and evolve into more resistant strains.  What you are in effect doing by taking antibiotics is providing an environment to evolve stronger and more resistant bacteria, and killing off the weaker ones.  This makes treatment of infection more difficult the next time around.
1082860
Nope, natural selection/evolution leads to bacterial resistance to antibiotics. No antibiotic is perfect. If we wipe some out, there would still be some left.
313005
Bronchitis can be very hard to get rid of, and it takes a while to completely go away.  Basically it's an upper respitory infection.  Usually antibiotics, and possibly an inhaler will clear it up.  Even after you take all the meds (per Doc's orders), you still might have to go back and get the med prescription refilled.\n\nCheck with your doctor.
721425
They are less effective.\n\nThe risks of taking expired antibiotics may probably cost u more in the end if something happens.
571138
You certainly can fight a bacterial infection without the benefit of antibiotics.  After all antibiotics simply assist our own defense system in fighting an infection.  If you are free of fever or serious symptoms from an infection that should have symptoms, then I see no good reason to take the medication.  There are infections that are known to be symptoms free, though (example: Chlamydia).  Sinusitis can have mild symptoms, so be sure you understand the whole story before you elect to skip your medication.  When in question, discuss the matter with your doctor or someone on his staff.\n\nGood luck.
801447
you may need a different antibiotic! call your doctor
34067
Nope. Colds are viral. Antibiotics do nothing to viruses. If you get a sinus infection or something like that along with the cold the antibiotics would cure the infection, but it wont help the cold. Take some things like vitamin C and echinacea to naturally boost your immune system and you may get over it quicker.
893048
You can exercise all you want, have fun at it! Just don't drink any alcohol while taking antibiotics.\n\nGood Luck.
865599
Viral illnesses CANNOT  be treated with antibiotics.  Usually viruses need to just run their course and just treat the symptoms, although there are few viruses that do have anti-viral meds. Bacterial illnesses CAN be treated quite effectively with antibiotics.
483281
antibiotics are supposed to make it not work
61241
Allergic bronchitis is not an INFECTION\n\nIts inflammation of bronchial tree (inside ur Lungs) due to external allergens like, amoke, dust, pollens, mite etc.
1061288
In case of penicillin based drugs: they inhibit bacterial capacity to build a bacterial wall, so bacteria get killed by lisis. Eukariotic cells don't have a cell wall so they are not affected by penicillin.\n\nSimilarly happens with other kinds of antibiotics
280912
Antibiotics are so successful because they exploit differences in physiology between bacterial and human cells. They interfere with biochemical processes which bacteria have, but not humans, e.g. construction of bacterial cell walls.\nViruses do not have the structures and biochemical processes the antibiotics interfere with, so you throw a ton of antibiotics on them and they won't care.