By Lakshita Popli : It is a general saying that “excess of everything is bad” same way over use of antibiotics is also risky for our body The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has joined Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and has declared September 28th to October 5th will be observed as antibiotic awareness week. IAP with 23thousand members and over 325 branches in the country has plans to take out rallies, put posters in hospitals and on the chemist shops on danger of improper use of antibiotics. Now let us see what are antibiotics?? – the word ‘anti’ means ‘ against’ and ‘bio’ means ‘life’ which means bacteria’s are life forms.. – Antibiotics are types of medications that either stop bacteria from reproducing or kill them.. Our body’s immune system can usually destroy these bacteria’s with the help of white blood cells in our body which attack harmful bacteria’s. There are occasions when the infection is too much and some help is needed. Indeed, at that time antibiotics are being used… But, question comes now what are antibiotics for?? – Antibiotics are given for the treatment of an infection caused by bacteria. And antibiotics are not effective against viruses. If you have an infection it is important to know whether it is caused by bacteria or virus said Dr. Harpreet singh Neonatologist. He also told that most of upper respiratory tract infections, such as COMMON COLD, and SORE THROATS are generally caused by viruses and antibiotics do not work against these viruses. Effects of overuse of antibiotics – Excessive use of antibiotics can cause injury to liver cell because antibiotics are metabolize by the liver – It can cause damage to kidney – Formation of kidney stones – Abnormal blood clotting – Some antibiotics can also cause deafness specially in infants. And the damaged caused by overuse of antibiotics can be revised only detected in early stage… Voices Dr Anish k. Gupta (H.O.D E.N.T Department) Fortis Hospital Mohali “5 to 10 percent admissions in hospitals are due to over use or miss use of antibiotics or other medicines like pain killers”.. He also told us that if the course of antibiotics are left incomplete then that particular salt stops reacting upon the bacterial infection. He also said that he generally sees patients of deafness caused by over dosage…
Dr. Harpreet singh Neonatologist If you have an infection it is important to know whether it is caused by bacteria or virus. He also told that most of upper respiratory tract infections, such as COMMON COLD, and SORE THROATS are generally caused by viruses and antibiotics do not work against these viruses.
This is to put in notice of my readers that if viral cannot be treated by antibiotics then why every doctor have started giving antibiotics for it?? Is that because doctors these days have become commercialized or we people have become impatient or that our system is responsible for not making strict rules on continues of antibiotics because nothing like this is ever found in countries other than India . We want to get well as soon as fingers are being twisted. Ask your doctor before taking antibiotics because according to a chemist shop ,eighty five percent of antibiotics are sold for common cold and sore throats that too with the doctor’s prescription.