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You cannot. Antibiotics are only for treating or preventing bacterial infections. Since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics have no effect and have been shown time and again to make no difference on the duration or severity of a viral infection (Influenza is a virus). There are antiviral medications but usually the best therapy is time.

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Q: Why does doctors still prescribe antibiotics for a flu infection?
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Is strep throat still contagious after 24 hours on antibiotics and white spots are still evident on glands?

If you've been prescribed antibiotics I'm assuming that you tested positive for a bacterial infection. Sometimes you doc will prescribe them anyway (bad idea). Strep can cause tonsillitis and we all know that you wont be contagious after 24 hours of being on antibiotics. If your tonsillitis was caused by a viral infection the antibiotics wont do anything for you except lower your immunity, and you'll still be contagious.


What do you do if you have tubes and get an ear infection?

Your doctor will most likely prescribe either antibiotics or ear drops. If you have tubes in your ears and you still get frequent ear infections, contact your physician. The ear tubes may not be working the way they should be.


How can i get rid of infection?

The treatment varies based on the infection. If it's a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed. Antibiotics work wonders against bacterial infections. They don't do anything against viruses though, but some doctors still prescribe antibiotics for viral conditions like colds and the flu! This is a problem, because giving someone antibiotics when they don't need it allows bacteria to become resistant to that antibiotic. That creates super bugs like MRSA. Anyway, I digress! For bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed. For viral infections... there's not a whole lot that can be done. Antivirals are out there, but as opposed to killing the source, like antibiotics with bacteria, antivirals focus on slowing development of new virus microbes. Think about colds. There's lots of medications that can help manage the symptoms, but there's not really anything that can be done to get rid of the cold itself. Sometimes you have to let these things run their course!


What was discovered befor the antibiotics?

Before antibiotics were discovered, sulfa drugs were used to fight infection. They are still used prophylacticly for some conditions. For many years they were used to stop recurring bladder infections and some doctors used them to stop recurring infections among asthmatics.


Why do I still have mild pain at the end of urination after my urine infection is gone?

You may still have some infection left even after the antibiotics are over. You will need to visit your doctor.


If someone with the Swine Flu is taking antibiotics are they still contagious?

Yes, because antibiotics are not effective on viruses. The Swine Flu (A-H1N1/09 virus) is unaffected by antibiotics and would still be transmissable. Antibiotics are usually only given to someone with a virus if they have already gotten or are considered to be at risk of getting a secondary bacterial infection along with the viral infection. Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria and treat bacterial infections.


Can your period stop a bladder infection?

The answer to this is no. I had a bladder infection while I was on holiday last year, even though I was on my period, the infection still remains and will not go away unless you take antibiotics which will be prescribed by your GP.


Does an antibiotic treat your infection after you have finished your prescribed dose?

An effective amount antibiotics should cure your infection by the time your done taking it. It is possible that it wont though, if you still have symptoms of infection contact your doctor as soon as you can.


Why mandl's paint is not used now adays?

Doctors prefer antibiotics today.But Mandels is still available with very old pharmacy's.


How do doctors treat a patient with a bacterial infection?

Most bacterial infections are treatable because most bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics. i.e. Antibiotics kill the bacteria without killing the patient. The other common form of infections, viruses are much harder to "kill" without harming the patient. Antiviral drugs are making progress but they still have a long way to go before they are as effective as antibiotics.


Which could result from a person who does not finish the prescribed amount of antibiotics for an infection?

For you personally, if you don't finish the course of antibiotics, the infection may appear to have cleared but in fact may still remain and come back stronger and worse. Depending on the infection, that could mean another course of antibiotics is needed or more drastic treatment. Of course, you may just be lucky and the infection has already been cleared but it will do you no harm to finish the course and it is more likely that you won't have cleared it up. Some infections even take more than one course of antibiotics.


If you chop antibiotics up in food do they still work?

If you are having problems with swallowing tablets, ask the doctor who prescribed them if she will prescribe a liquid. Some can only be taken in whole tablet form.