Now it is difficult to find a person who does not know about the existence of antibiotics. These drugs have saved thousands of lives, but should you take antibiotics when you cough? And if so, under what? We will talk about how to take these medicines correctly and not harm your he alth in this article.
Wrong choice
Many people consider antibiotics almost a panacea and use them for any case of a cold. Others, on the contrary, are afraid of these drugs, believing that they destroy the body. Both opinions are only partly true. Antibiotics for coughs are not used in all cases, but there are diseases that are almost always treated only with them, and diseases that are potentially fatal, such as pneumonia. So for starters, doctors will have to figure out not which antibiotic is right for you, but whether you need it at all.
Define the pathogen
Antibiotics are substances that inhibit the growth of bacteria, which means that they are effective against diseases caused by bacteria. Ordinary acute respiratory infections and SARS are caused by viruses, so in this case, taking antibiotic drugs will not only be useless, but also harmful to he alth!
In order not to use the power of drugs to your detriment, you need to see a doctor. With a prolonged cough with sputum, this should be done, as the doctor will send the sputum for analysis, and this will accurately determine the pathogen. Such a study allows you to determine which antibiotics for coughing in adults will be most effective.
Dangerous symptoms
ARI and SARS are the most common colds that hardly anyone has encountered. As a rule, they are of a viral nature, but sometimes atypical symptoms appear. This may be evidence of another infection. With these symptoms, more serious treatment should be considered, but what kind of cough is prescribed antibiotics?
If your sputum tastes bad or turns green or purulent, see a doctor immediately!
If colds are complicated by a rise in temperature above +38 C, the appearance of shortness of breath or severe headache, if the cough is protracted (more than three weeks), a visit to the doctor is necessary. Doctors can use a blood test to determine the level of white blood cells, and therefore the presence of an infection.
Such symptoms may indicate a secondary respiratory infection that develops along with a common cold. This can cause acute bronchitis, tracheitis or pneumonia. Bacterial tonsillitis, pleurisy and evenpurulent inflammation of the trachea and pharynx.
Other cold-like illnesses usually do not require antibiotics. When coughing and runny nose, you can use the usual means that can reduce the cough reflex and facilitate the removal of sputum. Your own immunity will do the rest.
Rationale
What antibiotics to take for a cough? The question of prescribing these strong and dangerous drugs should only be raised by a specialist. Remember that wet and dry cough should not be the reason for self-administration of antibiotics! The disease may have other causes (non-bacteriological): viruses, allergies, intoxications, heart disease. In this case, antibiotics for coughing will not be successful. But it is not always possible to go to the doctor. How to determine the infection yourself?
The first feature of a bacterial infection is a clear localization. If it so happens that a virus has entered the human body, the temperature rises sharply, and general well-being worsens. Transparent or liquid discharge is most often with viral infections, and a dark and greenish color is with bacterial infections. However, this sign does not give complete certainty, it should be taken into account only in total with the rest.
The throat should be examined. An experienced specialist in one type of throat can almost always correctly determine the disease. Far from medicine, people should remember that white spots are most often caused by bacteria. Bacterial infections are much more common than viral infections"escort" in the form of sneezing and runny nose.
Temperature is also one of the signs. In general, it cannot be attributed to any one type of infection, but its nature can be traced. A bacterial infection usually causes a higher temperature, and it rises day by day, but during a viral infection, the temperature usually goes down after a few days.
Doctors' appointments
Most often, antibiotics become the main drug for bronchitis, pneumonia (pneumonia), pharyngitis, tracheitis, pleurisy, sinusitis, tuberculosis.
Typically, doctors use three types of antibiotic substances: penicillins, macrolides, and cephalosporins. The drug is chosen depending on the bacteria for which it works best. The more advanced the disease, the wider the effect of the drug should be, therefore, "Amoxiclav" is most often prescribed as a universal drug.
The doctor monitors the patient's condition, notes the presence of improvements or their absence, and, depending on this, can adjust the course or prescribe another, more effective drug. If antibiotics for coughing did not help even after completing the full course, then the medicine was chosen incorrectly or the patient did not follow the instructions for taking it.
For bronchitis and cough
The antibiotics below are the most commonly prescribed by doctors to fight bacterial infections in the respiratory tract.
"Ampioks"
This drug has an active effect and has an effect on the inflammatory process, it quickly inhibits the bacterial infection, the patient feels a rapid improvement in well-being. The medicine can destroy even resistant pathogenic flora.
"Ampicillin"
One of the most commonly prescribed drugs. It is effective in relieving the symptoms of respiratory diseases, but it is not used to treat patients prone to allergic reactions. Suitable for treating children. This antibiotic is also used for coughing in adults, as it has a wide spectrum of action.
Augmentin
The drug has an excellent anti-inflammatory effect. It quickly helps to eliminate a respiratory infection, it is also used in cases where the pathogen is resistant to antibiotic drugs. Another name for the drug is "Amoxiclav". It has two active ingredients: ampicillin and clavulanic acid, and it is thanks to the latter that the action is enhanced. Sold in the form of a powder, from which the patient can independently prepare a suspension. You should be careful with the antibiotic, as it is contraindicated in phenylketonuria, liver and kidney diseases, jaundice.
"Arlette"
An antibiotic of the penicillin group, used for pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Contraindicated in violation of the kidneys and liver, as well as people suffering from lymphocytic leukemiaand mononucleosis.
"Supraks"
The drug can be bought in convenient granules for the preparation of a suspension for children. When coughing, the antibiotic Suprax is prescribed quite often, of course, if the cause of the symptom is a bacterial infection.
This is a modern medicine that is designed to actively counteract bacterial infections. It is used for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, urinary tract and some other organs. This drug is good because it is relatively safe at almost any age.
Interesting fact: adults often neglect to prepare a suspension for themselves, since taking pills is much faster. Meanwhile, this option of using the drug can significantly reduce discomfort with severe sore throat.
"Flemoxin"
Successfully used to treat bacterial infections in the upper respiratory tract. It is prescribed for diseases such as tonsillitis (acute tonsillitis), sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia. It has the following contraindications: diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, mononucleosis, lymphocytic leukemia, renal failure.
Cephalosporins and macrolides
From time to time, the lists of drugs used for coughs are revised. The names of antibiotics from a number of macrolides and cephalosporins, which are most often used by modern doctors, are presented below.
"Cefetamet"
Relates to third-generation cephalosporins. Prescribed by doctorsinfections of the ENT organs, as well as the lower and upper respiratory tract, with diseases such as sinusitis, pleurisy, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillopharyngitis. Not applicable for patients suffering from diseases of an allergenic nature, as well as those with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
"Spectracef"
Also belongs to the third generation cephalosporins, has the same indications for use as Cefetamet. Contraindicated in people on hemodialysis and people with liver failure.
"Azithromycin"
Refers to the macrolide type. It is prescribed for bacterial infectious diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract and ENT organs. These are acute tonsillitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillopharyngitis, otitis media and a number of others. Not applicable for violations of the functions of the liver and kidneys.
"Macrofoam"
Another macrolide antibiotic. It is used for the same diseases. Contraindicated in cases where the patient has hypersensitivity to the components, as well as in severe liver failure.
"Sumamed"
Related to macrolides. Doctors often use this antibiotic for severe coughs in children, but only if the symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection. It is able to accumulate in tissues without intoxication, due to which the duration of the course can be reduced to five days. In contraindications, only sensitivity to the components is listed. Cannot be taken concomitantly with Heparin.
Syrups
Is there an antibiotic cough syrup? In the literal sense of the word, no, but there are syrups that have a certain antibacterial effect. They will not be able to fully replace antibiotics, but are often prescribed by doctors. Often they are prescribed to children with a strong cough. These are plantain syrup, "Lazolvan" in the form of syrup, "Doctor Mom", "Bronholitin".
Special meals
Treatment with any antibiotics for your body is a real test of strength, since together with pathogenic bacteria, the medicine destroys the beneficial microflora. The gastrointestinal tract suffers the most, hence the majority of side effects, such as diarrhea, diarrhea or constipation, heartburn, and in some cases even dysbacteriosis. Often there are pains in the stomach and intestines. Despite the fact that the negative effect of antibiotics on the human body can often be too strong, doctors do not cancel the drug, since the drugs themselves are unique. No other drug can replace an antibiotic. Side effects cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be minimized.
How to protect your stomach
An antibiotic is an integral part of the treatment of a large number of inflammations. Despite the harm they cause, safer analogues simply do not exist, so doctors have developed rules by which patients can protect the stomach from the harmful effects of the drug and reduce the occurrence of many adverse side effects.
A special diet should be followed during treatment. Since the gastrointestinal tract is already under enormous stress, it is necessary to exclude junk food: fried, s alty, alcohol, canned food, sour foods and fruits. Eat more vegetables and sweet fruits, drink more pure water without gas.
It is not recommended to drink the antibiotic on an empty stomach, but you should not take the medicine on a full stomach, because then it will be much more difficult for him to cope with the medicine. For a snack, it is better to use products that have an enveloping effect. This will reduce irritation from the drug. The best food during the course will be soups, cereals, kissels, boiled vegetables.
Doctors often prescribe special drugs to maintain the microflora of the stomach. These can be Linex, Laktofiltrum, Bifidumbacterin, Bifiform and others. They are also used to treat dysbiosis, which is one of the common side effects of any antibiotic.
For kids
It should be remembered that children are prescribed only the safest and most gentle antibiotics, since the younger the age, the more the kidneys and other organs will suffer from the drug. Not all drugs will be effective due to the peculiarities of children's metabolism. The most common antibiotics for prolonged cough in children are Augmentin, Ampicillin and Sumamed. If there is no way to see a doctor, use the drugs, carefully studying the contraindications and dosage. Oftenchildren and adults prone to allergies, doctors prescribe antihistamines. If consultation with a doctor is not possible, have one of these drugs at home, such as Suprastin or Tavegil, in case an allergic reaction develops. The main thing is to clearly read the instructions and consult a pharmacist, because the drugs you are taking may be incompatible.
Reviews
Antibiotic for cough - is it really necessary? And if so, is it worth it to choose it based on reviews? Sometimes incompetent doctors may prescribe this or that antibiotic drug, although its use is not justified. A properly selected antibiotic always gives an excellent result, so if it did not work, then either the doctor made the wrong prescription, or the patient himself made mistakes in taking it. Do not forget that it is important to observe the dosage and time of administration so that the concentration of the drug in the blood always remains at the desired level.
Antibiotics are now either considered a panacea or blamed for a multitude of side effects. Some believe they do more harm than good, so it seems safe to take a drug that has good reviews. But you have already seen that each antibiotic has its own contraindications, and allergies are not uncommon. For example, the doctor prescribed "Sumamed", and the child started allergic reactions. Of course, a frustrated mother will write a bad review about the drug, despite the fact that this medicine is prescribed to children most often.
Now you are armed with theoretical knowledge, but you should not prescribe antibiotics without permission. Information aboutantibiotics will help you even if the doctor is incompetent. Just do not be afraid to ask for clarification of tests and appointments, so you can protect your he alth.
Remember that antibiotic treatment of a cough will only be effective if it is caused by a bacterial infection. No matter how good the reviews about the drug are, it will not be effective against other pathogens.
