Avid Antibiotic Overuse: Can They Really Solve Colds?
Should doctors jump straight to prescribing antibiotics for the common cold? Up to 50% of prescribed antibiotics are not actually necessary or do not effectively eliminate an upper respiratory infection (URI) because these are caused by viruses. However, in the case of many other conditions and diseases, antibiotics are an essential tool in the fight against bacterial infections, and they have saved countless lives since their discovery. Antibiotics are a type of medicine that kills off infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics either eliminate the bacteria or stop them from spreading. They are not only used for when a person already has an infection, but also can be given before surgery to prevent a future infection. Antibiotics can quickly and effectively treat bacterial infections and prevent them from spreading to other regions of the body. However, antibiotics cannot get rid of viruses as they survive by going inside and infecting human cells whereas bacteria are independent cells.
Upper respiratory infections are a very common type of infection that affects millions of people worldwide every year. URIs are caused by a variety of viruses and can affect different parts of the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, sinuses, and throat. Although most URIs are mild and can be treated at home with rest, fluids, over-the-counter medications, and antibiotics, some cases can lead to more serious complications, especially in people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.
Upper respiratory infections are a very common type of infection that affects millions of people worldwide every year. URIs are caused by a variety of viruses and can affect different parts of the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, sinuses, and throat. Although most URIs are mild and can be treated at home with rest, fluids, over-the-counter medications, and antibiotics, some cases can lead to more serious complications, especially in people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.
Unnecessary use of antibiotics can cause adverse effects such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and allergic reactions.
Image Source: Mark-Fletcher Brown
A 2022 scientific study conducted by researchers at Stanford University evaluated the use of antibiotics in acute, or serious, upper respiratory infections. The report discusses the harsh effects of prescribing antibiotics for URIs that would otherwise clear up on their own. There are substantial risks that come with antibiotic therapy. The first risk is side effects that may include nausea, rash, yeast infections, and life-threatening allergic reactions. One serious side effect is a C. diff infection, which causes acute diarrhea and colon damage, eventually leading to death. A well known problem with antibiotics is the possibility of patients’ bodies becoming resistant, which causes antibiotics to be less effective. The authors of the report looked at information from 51 million patient visits and found that 62.4% of patients with URIs were given antibiotics. The study also showed that people who took antibiotics were 1.24 to 1.61 times more likely to develop side effects like diarrhea or yeast infections. This increase may seem small, but when considering an entire population, the effects add up. The paper concluded that for public health reasons, prescribing antibiotics for a URI leads to noticeable harm to the population. The negative impacts are more detrimental than the consequences associated with the disease itself that the antibiotics are trying to treat. Therefore, it is important for doctors to prescribe antibiotics for URIs appropriately and only when necessary to reduce the risks associated with their use.
Since upper respiratory infections are so common, this issue affects anyone seeking help recovering from an illness. The unnecessary use of antibiotics can lead to adverse effects, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, as evidenced by these findings. Antibiotics are overprescribed because of overtreating. Sometimes the appeal of rapid treatment causes ignorance of the long-term effects of antibiotic resistance. That is why antibiotics should only be used when they are truly necessary and prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Since upper respiratory infections are so common, this issue affects anyone seeking help recovering from an illness. The unnecessary use of antibiotics can lead to adverse effects, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, as evidenced by these findings. Antibiotics are overprescribed because of overtreating. Sometimes the appeal of rapid treatment causes ignorance of the long-term effects of antibiotic resistance. That is why antibiotics should only be used when they are truly necessary and prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Featured Image Source: Roberto Sorin
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