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Frequently Asked Questions: Antibiotics
- How do you develop "resistance" to an antibiotic?
- How come some health care providers prescribe antibiotics for 7 days, others 10 days, some as much as three weeks for the same condition?
- My mother told me I am allergic to penicillin. How would I know if I was truly allergic?
- I don't take antibiotics often. Why would you worry about resistance for someone like me?
- How can I tell if my child or I have an allergic reaction to an antibiotic?
- Why do I have to continue taking the medicine if I am feeling better?
- Can I use leftover medicine from another family member?
- How long should I wait before seeing an improvement in my child's condition before I call you?
- I am paying $90.00 for this initial office visit and your telling that I don't need antibiotics for this cold that I have had for a week.
- How do I differentiate between a bacterial and viral infection?
A person does not develop a resistance to an antibiotic. Rather, they become infected with bacterium that has developed resistance to the medication.
The traditional course of treatment is ten days. However, there is research indicating that fewer days may be as effective for some conditions. It is important to discuss your prescription with your health care provider and to take the medication for the total of the the number of days prescribed.
The only way to determine a true allergy to penicillin is by allergy testing. Many people think or have been told they have an allergy to penicillin when in fact they may not. It is important to tell your health care provider what symptoms you had after taking penicillin since they may be able to determine from your description whether or not is was a true allergy.
Taking antibiotics when they are not necessary contributes to the increase in resistance in the general population and may put you, your family members, and others in the community at risk for infection with a resistant germ.
Allergic reactions may consist of hives, swelling of the mouth and eyes, and sometimes difficulty breathing. Stop taking medication and notify your health care provider immediately. If difficulty breathing does occur, immediate medical attention is required.
It is important to take the full course of antibiotics prescribed. An inadequately treated infection can lead to increase in the spread of resistant organisms.
No. Medication should never be transferred from one person to another for several reasons. First, you should always complete the medication prescribed to you to ensure that your infection is adequately treated. Second, medication has an expiration date and expired medication can be dangerous. Third, the illness another family member has may not require an antibiotic. In general, take all the medication prescribed to you and throw away all unused medication.
The general agreed upon length of time to wait before considering changing antibiotics is 48-72 hours. However, it is important to call immediately if your child's symptoms are getting worse.
It is frustrating to pay for an office visit if you are expecting an antibiotic and find out that it is not needed. However, you can receive other valuable information about your diagnosis and ways to manage your illness. It is much better not to take an antibiotic if it is not needed.
It is sometimes difficult to make this distinction. In general, people with bacterial infections feel sicker and may have more symptoms, such as a high fever. However, this is not always the case, as with influenza, chickenpox, and some other viruses. Therefore, a visit to your health care provider to determine the cause of your illness may be necessary.
