Colds can be caused by more than just viruses. Quite often, the cause of poor he alth is bacteria, which can only be fought with antibiotics. Many inexpensive antibiotics are old-fashioned and selectively target pathogens. Consider the most effective drugs from this category.
When do you need antibiotics?
Almost everyone experiences cold symptoms several times a year. Nasal congestion, slight fever, sore throat are the first signs of SARS. In this case, even inexpensive antibiotics are not necessary. The active ingredients contained in such preparations do not affect the viability of viruses.
In the absence of proper treatment of a viral disease, complications often occur in the form of a bacterial infection. This can be determined by deterioration, fever, swollen lymph nodes, severe pain in the throat. Also canappear cough, earache, plaque on the tonsils. Similar symptoms usually occur on the 5th-6th day of SARS development.
Antiviral drugs are not able to resist staphylococci and streptococci. Pathogenic microorganisms, in turn, can penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract, which will only aggravate the situation and delay the recovery period. To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to start taking antibiotics for a cold in time. Inexpensive and effective medicines are prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the type of causative agent of the disease, the age of the patient and the characteristics of the course of the disease. Usually they are recommended to be used as part of complex therapy.
Types of antibiotics
Existing antibacterial drugs can suppress the reproduction of pathogenic microbes or cause their death. In the first case, we are talking about a bacteriostatic effect, and in the second, a bactericidal effect. Modern antibiotics have both mechanisms of influence on the vital activity of pathogenic microbes. Which medication is suitable in a particular case, only a doctor can determine.
In the fight against colds, the following types of antibiotics are prescribed:
- Penicillins are low-toxic drugs that can be used in large dosages. They can be natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic. Rarely cause side effects and have a minimum of contraindications. This group includes drugs such as Amoxicillin, Ospamox, Amoxiclav, Flemoxin Solutab.
- Cephalosporins are relatively inexpensive antibiotics. For colds, they are most often prescribed in the form of injections (intravenously or intramuscularly). In tablet form ("Cefalexin", "Zinnat", "Supraks", "Cefixime") drugs have varying degrees of therapeutic effect.
- Macrolides are one of the safest antibiotics. "Erythromycin", "Clarithromycin", "Azithromycin" are prescribed for intolerance to the penicillin group of drugs.
- Fluoroquinols - have a bactericidal effect and create high concentrations in tissues. The latest generation drugs (Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin) are used for chronic respiratory diseases.
How to choose?
Finding an inexpensive broad-spectrum antibiotic without the help of a specialist is quite difficult. Each drug produces its own therapeutic effect, has contraindications for use and a number of side effects. Therefore, without consulting a specialist, it is highly not recommended to use this group of medicines for treatment.
Preparations of the group of cephalosporins and penicillins of the old generation mainly prevent the further reproduction of pathogenic agents, and tetracyclines, fluoroquinols and macrolides can completely suppress protein synthesis in microbial cells. Some are more often used to treat inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, others will help with diseases of the genitourinary or digestive system.
Antibiotics for colds
Inexpensive and effective antibacterialdrugs are produced mainly by domestic pharmaceutical companies. However, experts most often prescribe more expensive foreign analogues. For example, with bacterial angina, not only Augmentin, but also inexpensive Ampicillin can be used to treat. In general, antibiotics of the penicillin series are considered the most effective in inflammatory processes in the organs of the upper respiratory system. They are also used in pediatric practice.
Cephalosporins have a powerful therapeutic effect and are often prescribed for the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis in adult patients. "Cefalexin", "Cefaclor", "Cefazolin" are inexpensive antibiotics with high bactericidal activity. The first and second generation of these medicines have a narrow spectrum of effects. 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins are highly active against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and anaerobes.
"Amoxicillin": a description of the drug
"Amoxicillin" is a semi-synthetic antibiotic from the category of penicillins. Like any other drug, it can be used for treatment strictly if there are certain indications.
The product is available in the form of oral suspension, tablets, capsules and dry matter for injection. This is an inexpensive antibiotic with a wide range of therapeutic effects, which will be effective in diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, skin pathologies.
Streptococci, staphylococci, gonococci, meningococci, chlamydia, salmonella, klebsiella, shigella, anaerobic microorganisms are sensitive to the active substance. Amoxicillin is used to treat the smallest patients, calculating the dosage depending on the weight of the child.
Contraindications and side effects
The drug should not be used in the following cases:
- intolerance or hypersensitivity to penicillins;
- need for treatment of mononucleosis, lymphocytic leukemia;
- severe history of liver disease;
- disruption of the digestive system due to severe infection.
Inexpensive broad-spectrum antibiotic "Amoxicillin", like other penicillins, causes some side effects more often than other antibiotics. This usually manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions: urticaria, itching, redness of the skin. Less commonly, nausea, headache, diarrhea, runny nose, increased tearing.
Drug "Cephalexin"
Another inexpensive antibacterial agent from the 1st generation cephalosporin group. The drug shows the greatest activity against streptococci, Proteus, Escherechia and Klebsiella. Do not use it if the causative agent of the disease is gram-negative bacteria, enterococci. "Cephalexin" is produced in the form of tablets with a dosage of 250 and 500 mg, as well as in the form of granules for suspension.
Use an antibacterial agentnecessary for infectious lesions of the ENT organs and the respiratory system, diseases of the genital area, purulent pathologies of the skin. Worth a look if inexpensive antibiotics are needed.
If you have a cold, it should be used with extreme caution. The active substance can cause a number of side effects: dysbacteriosis, abdominal pain, allergic skin reactions, dry mouth. The drug is taken in large doses, which can provoke the development of candidiasis of the genital organs and intestines, colitis, vaginitis, diarrhea, nausea, convulsions.
"Azithromycin": instructions for use
"Azithromycin" is an inexpensive antibiotic with a wide therapeutic effect, related to macrolides. In the form of tablets, the drug contains 250 and 500 mg of active ingredient. Also, the agent is produced in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension. In 20 ml of the prepared solution there are 100, 200 or 500 mg of azithromycin dehydrate.
Use "Azithromycin" for colds is necessary only if there are serious indications. An antibiotic is prescribed for sore throat, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis, tonsillitis, scarlet fever. The active ingredient is able to cope with most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, microorganisms that synthesize beta-lactamase.
Reviews about the drug
Inexpensive antibiotics for adults and children can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases of bacterial etiology. Means "Azithromycin" has not only a powerful antimicrobialaction, but also has an immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory effect. The drug rarely causes side effects. Unlike other antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins), it must be taken within 3-5 days.
