Throughout life, a person is faced with a huge number of dangers, one of which is infection. The virus spreads throughout the body, penetrating the cells and devouring them. Infection can manifest itself very violently, but it can also remain in a latent state for a long period, and sometimes for life.
Today in medicine, there are more than 450 viruses. According to WHO, eighty percent of infectious diseases in the world are caused by strains.
Viruses
The spread of pathogens occurs from individual to individual, and the animal can also be a carrier. In form, viruses are divided into two types:
- Chronic, which affect the body for a long period.
- Acute, with the introduction of which the body undergoes a rapid development of the disease.
At the same time, infections are accompanied by unpleasant signs, and many patients and doctors seek to quickly eliminate the symptoms of the pathological process with antibacterial drugs.
But you must understand that antimicrobials are not able to eliminate a viral infection.
A virus is not a cell; it cannot share; it develops only in a living organism. The infected person transforms into a portable incubator, which spreads the infection around itself by airborne droplets, as well as by contact or otherwise.
Antibiotics against viruses and bacteria: help or not
The most effective medicine for a viral infection is not antibacterial drugs, but antiviral medications.
Viral infections are divided into the following types:
- Respiratory, which include about 170 pathogen names.
- Intestinal lesions - have 90 items.
- Arbovirus infection - about 100 species.
- Hepatitis infections.
- Human immunodeficiency virus of the first and second type.
- Human papillomas - over 100 species.
- Herpetic lesions, adenovirus infection, hantavirus infection and others.
Consider, for example, an acute respiratory viral infection that affects both adults and children. Inflammation in ninety-nine percent of cases is triggered by a viral infection. The use of antimicrobial agents against it is inefficient, because the drugs are aimed only at eliminating harmful bacteria.
On the contrary, the use of antibiotics in this situation is fraught with negative effects - these drugs destroy not only pathogens, but also beneficial bacteria, adversely affecting the immune system.
Have you heard that they drink antibiotics with the virus? Perhaps these people are simply self-medicating! Unlike bacteria, viruses are just a system that is close to life form. Doctors still cannot agree on whether this organism is alive or not.
So, antimicrobial agents are substances of plant or synthetic origin that can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria or provoke their death.
Do antibiotics kill viruses? Antimicrobials are different, but, as a rule, they do not act on viruses, because the strain does not have its own metabolic system. After all, viruses are parasites that are able to live and spread only in the host cells. So antibiotics against the influenza virus, herpes, measles and hepatitis are useless to drink.
To do this, there are powerful drugs that can influence large viruses, but at the same time harm cells and the human defense system. Therefore, to use antibacterial drugs against viruses, in most situations, it makes no sense.
Why do doctors prescribe antibiotics against ARVI and other viral infections?
Why use antibiotics against viruses or bacteria? Antimicrobial drugs are designed to stop the spread of bacterial inflammatory lesions in the main pathology.
The feasibility of such treatment is very doubtful, since the destruction of all bacteria, without exception, takes away from the human body the ability to effectively fight ARVI.
Do antibiotics treat viruses in children? Often there is rotavirus, which in most cases affects preschool children. The disease is characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. The main sign of rotavirus infection is sudden diarrhea.
Therapy in this situation is based on the restoration of the water-salt balance. Also, antibacterial agents are often prescribed to prevent rotavirus in children.
Antibiotics for viral diseases
Antimicrobial drugs can be prescribed for the return of chronic otitis media, with severe symptoms of immunodeficiency, with acute viral infections.
Do antibiotics treat viruses in some special cases? A number of reasons for the occurrence of which antibacterial agents are necessary:
- Chronic inflammatory processes of the middle ear.
- Underweight in babies, vitamin D and calcium deficiency, weak immune system.
- Signs of insufficiency of the body's protective functions, among which there are frequent inflammatory processes, colds, causeless temperature increase, fungal lesions of the nail plate, regular digestive problems, autoimmune diseases, cancerous tumors, purulent processes.
Antibiotic virus treatment is used to prevent certain complications. For instance:
- If a bacterial purulent tonsillitis appears with a viral disease, there is a streptococcal or anaerobic infection.
- In the event of inflammatory lesions in the lungs.
- With the formation of inflammatory processes in the ears.
When purulent joins a viral infection, it is observed:
- damage to the lymph nodes;
- sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinuses);
- phlegmon (acute diffuse purulent inflammation of the cellular spaces, unlike an abscess, does not have clear boundaries);
- bacteria affect the airways and throat.
The use of antibiotics against viruses is indicated as a preventive measure to prevent complications.
With rotavirus, you need to conduct an early diagnosis, rehydration, and also take adsorbent drugs - activated carbon, Smecta, Polysorb. Enterosorbents help to connect viruses and "remove" them from the human body. As a rule, the use of antimicrobials to eliminate rotavirus infection is strictly contraindicated so as not to destroy the already affected gastrointestinal tract.
With rotavirus, it is recommended to follow a diet and take medications that can replenish the body's water balance (Regidron), and you should also use enzymes, among which Pancreatin and Creon, which regenerate microflora, are noted. But in rare situations, antimicrobials are also prescribed against rotavirus infection. This is possible under the following conditions:
- Suspected cholera with severe dehydration.
- The presence of blood in feces.
- Chronic diarrhea, which lasts more than ten days and in the presence of lamblia in the feces.
It must be remembered that antibiotics against viruses can be used in rare cases. For the effectiveness of treatment, the correct selection of antibacterial agents is important. You also need to know the location of the virus and the spectrum of action in order to establish the correct dosage.
What do doctors prescribe for a viral infection
As a rule, preference is given to antimicrobial agents with a general spectrum of action, with increased digestibility and low toxicity.
In case of a viral infection, a minimal effect of the antimicrobial preparation on the beneficial intestinal microflora and the absence of an excess or lack of beneficial bacteria in the body during its use are necessary. Antibiotic names for viruses:
- Penicillin medications, which include "Oxacillin", as well as "Ampioks" and "Ampicillin." Such drugs have the ability to be instantly absorbed, they effectively eliminate streptococci, pneumococci, meningococci.
- Cephalosporin preparations include "Cephalexin", "Cefazolin", "Cephaloridin". Medicines are considered low-toxic, act against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, and can also suppress penicillin-resistant viruses.
- Macrolides are Erythromycin and Azithromycin, which are designed to suppress the spread of pathogens.
- Tetracyclines include Doxycycline and Tetracycline. Medications prevent protein synthesis in the cell.
- In severe infections, aminoglycosides are used, including Gentamicin and Amikacin.
- Other groups of antibiotics that act on viruses include Linkomycin and Rifampicin.
When combining a bacterial intestinal infection with rotavirus, patients can use Enterofuril, Furazolidone and other antimicrobial agents. They help prevent prolonged diarrhea (diarrhea). As a rule, these drugs are prescribed according to test results.
Among the most common symptoms that confirm the attachment of a bacterial lesion are sudden changes in temperature and the nature of the bowel movement.
The result of improper treatment
The most dangerous consequences of rotavirus for a child can be critical dehydration and rapid weight loss. The smaller the age of the small patient, the more serious the problem will be in this condition. Dehydration during rotavirus pathological process, as a rule, entails:
- The occurrence of pneumonia, since with loss of fluid the blood becomes thicker and a pathological secret, too, which disrupts the functioning of the lungs, as well as the bronchi and the cardiovascular system.
- The stability of the central nervous system is violated. Complications are manifested by cramping and loss of consciousness. Due to a deficiency of sodium and calcium, there is a failure in the supply of electrical signals that pass through cells. They mix, which provokes involuntary muscle contractions.
- With insufficient blood volume, a sharp decrease in pressure can be observed, as well as a decrease in oxygen level, hypovolemic shock is possible.
What really helps in the fight against viral diseases
Is the virus treated with antibiotics? Antimicrobials are drugs, for the most part, of natural origin that fight bacterial pathogens. But they, as noted above, are absolutely useless for viruses, since the latter is considered an extracellular agent for which antibacterial treatment does not work.
To eliminate the virus, you can use antiviral medications and medicines that can not only resist the attack of an extraneous microorganism, but will also be effective in the prevention of subsequent infections. You need to know that antimicrobial drugs with the virus are useless and even harmful.
Since viral infections can provoke serious ailments (for example, the upper respiratory tract), there are certain antiviral drugs that eliminate this pathology.
Against influenza virus, acute respiratory viral infections and respiratory diseases apply:
- "Orvir", "Mindatan" from the flu of group A.
- "Arbidol", "Aflubin", "Amiksin", "Tamiflu" are suitable for flu of categories B, C and SARS.
- Ribavirin is effective for respiratory infections.
From viral hepatitis, a group of interferon inducers and Ribamidil from hepatitis B and C. are recommended for use.
Acyclovir, an effective anti-herpes virus, is not an antibiotic.
From contagious lesions:
- Metisazan for smallpox.
- "Acyclovir" from shingles and chickenpox.
Antimicrobials eliminate most diseases. However, they have established themselves not only as liquidators of bacteria, but also as pests for human health. Antiviral medicines and medicines can also not be classified as safe.
Interferon Alfa-2V
For example, with acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, many patients take the antiviral drug Interferon Alfa-2B. He does a wonderful job. But the use of this medication is fraught with negative consequences for the body. Like an antibiotic, an antiviral medicine has certain contraindications.
For example, Interferon Alfa-2B may provoke:
- Allergic reactions.
- Itchy skin.
- Stomach upset.
It is important to note that the above reactions may occur in those patients who are prohibited from using this medication:
- During pregnancy.
- With lactation.
- For infants and toddlers under three years old.
- For people of retirement age.
- With acute intolerance to the drug in the patient.
Undoubtedly, when the first symptoms of infection appear, you need to contact a medical specialist. Before taking this or that drug, you need to get a doctor's consultation, after having passed the tests.
Only a doctor can prescribe antibacterials to a child. At the same time, the wrong prescription of the drug can lead to the fact that the next time the child catches up with a viral infection faster, since treatment with the use of antimicrobials causes a significant blow to the child’s immune system.
Prevention methods
The most natural, as well as effective and one hundred percent helping drug for all diseases and infections is not an antibacterial agent, but the human immune system. If it is in order, then the body is fighting a virus or a bacterium.
Health can also be enhanced by hardening with cold and hot water. But if taking a contrast shower is good, then drinking cold water is very dangerous. Healthy and natural foods, fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products also help strengthen the body's defenses.
So that viral diseases do not catch a person by surprise, vaccinations must be given.
What are the benefits of vaccination:
- The body will be able to develop immunity against infection.
- Do not have to spend money on expensive drugs.
- Minimum side effects.
- Lack of contraindications.
Conclusion
Given all of the above, it can be concluded that sometimes the use of antibacterial agents even in the presence of viral infections becomes a necessity. Moreover, only a medical specialist has the right to determine the type of infection and choose an effective medicine.
Most often, antimicrobials cannot be used to treat viral infections, since they are aimed at inhibiting the reproduction of bacteria (living cells), and the virus is not a cell. It can only be inside living organisms, devouring them. In other words, it is a parasite.
It must be remembered forever that antibiotic therapy:
- It is prescribed by the doctor only to eliminate bacterial infections.
- It can have no effect on the virus and infection, since the antibiotic eliminates only living cells. With a viral infection, it is completely useless.
The virus, penetrating the body, functions as a parasite, affecting living cells. Antimicrobial drugs cannot eliminate viral diseases, but they can be easily eliminated with antiviral drugs, which can easily neutralize the most common diseases of the upper respiratory system in children and adult patients. Antiviral agents, such as Amixin, must be consumed after meals. You must always remember that in most cases, antibiotics do not act on viruses.
Because of the illiteracy of many people, most of them are self-medicating, usually making the wrong diagnosis for themselves. It is important to consider that an antimicrobial drug is considered a powerful medicine, and its effect is aimed not only at neutralizing harmful bacteria, but also destroying the microflora of the body. This can be detrimental.
First of all, you need to consult a medical specialist. You can not engage in self-medication! Before using any medication, you need to thoroughly study the instructions for use.