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What a terrible flu season we’re in.
Looks like after all the uncertainty, the vaccine is about 30 percent effective in preventing flu infection but quite a bit better at reducing the chances of important complications, hospitalizations and death if infections do develop. As usual, the young, the old and the infirm are the most seriously at risk with almost 100 kids dying this season. Many seemingly healthy youngsters have fallen desperately ill over only a day or two.
With all this to worry about, as well as the general desire to get rid of the rotten symptoms as quickly as possible, many people with the flu, a cold or other malady will go to a doctor to ask for antibiotics.
But are antibiotics the right solution?
Antibiotics are, in a sense, miracle drugs. Ever since penicillin was discovered, we’ve improved our ability to fight infections by leaps and bounds. But antibiotics have their limits, and they are ineffective against the flu. In fact, antibiotics may do more harm than good if you have the flu.
The wrong guy for the job
Bacteria make you sick by entering the body and disrupting bodily functions. Antibiotics kill bacteria and other microorganisms. However, the flu is not caused by bacteria, but by a virus, and antibiotics don’t really do anything to combat viruses.
The reason is viruses infect your body in a different way. Viruses infect your cells and multiply inside of them. For the virus, your cells act as a sort of Trojan horse, disguising the virus as it reproduces. Because they hide in your cells, antibiotics can’t affect viruses in the same way they affect bacteria, fungi and some other odd microorganisms.
Taking antibiotics for a virus is more than useless; it’s potentially dangerous. Although antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria, they can miss more resistant bacteria like clostridium difficile (C-diff). As a result, after taking antibiotics, it’s possible to let the C-diff bug overgrow in the intestine and cause an infection, which causes severe diarrhea and may require emergency medical attention. Antibiotics can also cause yeast or thrush infections.
In addition, the overzealous use of antibiotics contributes to the rise of “super bugs” or antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a type of bacteria that may pose a huge public health threat in the future, according to the World Health Organization.
As we’ve stressed before, the best way to avoid getting the flu is to get vaccinated. The flu shot may not be 100 percent effective, because researchers are speculating which strain of flu will be the most prevalent.
What should you do if you’re sick?
If you feel ill, go to the doctor. Talk to your doctor about whether you have a bacterial or viral infection and what the best treatment is. If it’s bacterial, antibiotics can help. If it’s viral, it needs to run its course. However, if you catch the flu early enough, doctors can prescribe specific anti-viral medications to shorten the length of the sickness.
Viruses are “self-limiting,” meaning they will go away with or without treatment. However, some over-the-counter medicines can help treat symptoms of the flu. In addition, there are plenty of home remedies, such as steam baths or tea with honey that people find effective. A few weeks ago, we went over what to do if ill. It’s especially important, as my granddaughter Rowan reminds me and her friend Daniel Tiger sings “When you’re sick, rest is best.”
If you notice that you’re not getting better after 10 days or if your symptoms are getting worse, talk to your doctor.
