Finish your anti biotics so all the bacteria is killed. The strongest bacteria are always left at the end always fighting to survive, so finish the prescription to make sure they are destroyed. The infection could come back. We wouldn't want that to happen now would we?
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I agree with the previous respondent, but I'd take it further. If you don't make sure that you kill all of the bacteria in the first try, you run the risk of bacteria developing that are resistant to that type of antibiotic.
I guess you only need one of the little suckers to mutate slightly, or develop a resistance (out of the millions in your infection) - and then you've got yourself an infection that requires a second course of different antibiotics to cure it.
Furthermore, there is only a limited number of different antibiotics available = what if you find yourself with an infection that's no longer affected by available antibiotics. Then what?
Still think the two or three days you saved without having to take 'those darn pills' was worth it now? (That's what I think any time I have to take them at least)
Yes, it should. Always take any prescribed medication for however long you are instructed to.
We can reduce it by using different antibiotics, by using them less often and fight the illness in a different maybe natural way and finally by taking the whole course of the antibiotics instead of just taking them until you feel better.
Because the organisms that the antibiotics kill (to make you better) evolve resistance to the antibiotics when they are exposed to them. This means that the more the exposure (prescribing) the faster resistance develops. Antibiotics should therefore ONLY be used when really needed and taken EXACTLY as they are meant to. Stopping a dose of antibiotics before a full course of treatment is worse than over prescribing.
Strep throat is typically treated with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional. It is important to finish the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve to ensure the infection is completely cleared. Rest, stay hydrated, and consider using throat lozenges or warm salt water gargles to help alleviate symptoms.
Septic tonsillitis, also known as streptococcal tonsillitis, is contagious until the person has been on antibiotics for at least 24-48 hours. It is important to finish the full course of prescribed antibiotics to prevent spreading the infection to others. Close contacts may also need to be evaluated and treated if necessary.
No. If some of them have already been taken, then there isn't a full course of treatment left. If you take a partial course of antibiotics, it may not completely kill the bacteria and that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. So, the bacteria will become resistant to that particular antibiotic and you'll need a stronger one to kill it. You should never have leftover antibiotics and you should never take just a partial course.
If you stop taking your antibiotics before the full course of treatment is complete, you may kill only some of the bacteria that caused the infection. Worse yet, the remaining bacteria may have some resistance to the antibiotics. It is also important to take antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor, and in particular do not take antibiotics for a virus (such as the common cold or the flu). Antibiotics have no effect on viruses.
Streptococcus can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin. In severe cases, hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics may be necessary. It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by a healthcare provider to ensure the infection is fully eradicated.
The best treatment for cocci bacteria is typically a course of antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare provider. Commonly used antibiotics for cocci infections include ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed to ensure complete eradication of the bacteria.
If you stop taking your antibiotic before you complete the course any surviving bacteria developes an immunity to that antibiotic. You must then take a different, usually stronger antibiotic to kill the infection. Once that happens that particular antibiotic usually will not work for any bacterial infection you may get.
Because if the infection isn't killed off completely it will return.
You don't technically need antibiotics if your immune system was strong enough to fight of an infection itself. Antibiotics help inhibit bacterial growth by interfering with its general proliferation, whether it be through reproduction or cell wall synthesis. Often, antibiotics are there to aid your body in ridding itself of a bacterial infection faster. For the elderly or immunologically impaired, antibiotics weaken the bacteria enough for the body to clean up the mess. One thing antibiotics cannot do is completely get rid of a bacteria infection by itself, the body will still do most of the work.