Antibiotics during viral fever to stop the secondary bacterial infection!!!!
Oppose. There is no need to load the organism with more drugs. The first line, for me, is an immunomodulator, something like zanamivir started in the first 48h, 1g daily Vit.C and more sleep + OTC sachets (acetaminophen, pseudoephedrin and Vit.C). If the fever continues for more than 3 days and yellow/green secretion from the nose is present then antibiotics can be added. Stop relying on antibiotics all the time. If you think, they are the last measure, so keep your trumps !
Oppose. There is no need to load the organism with more drugs. The first line, for me, is an immunomodulator, something like zanamivir started in the first 48h, 1g daily Vit.C and more sleep + OTC sachets (acetaminophen, pseudoephedrin and Vit.C). If the fever continues for more than 3 days and yellow/green secretion from the nose is present then antibiotics can be added. Stop relying on antibiotics all the time. If you think, they are the last measure, so keep your trumps !
Oppose. Vitamin D can do the trick. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D induces production of cathelicidin and defensins which fight both viruses and bacteria. In addition, 1,25D shifts the balance of cytokines away from the proinflammatory ones, which helps reduce such things as disruption of the lining of the lung. Together, these actions reduce the risk of pneumonia after development of influenza:
Grant WB, Giovannucci E. The possible roles of solar ultraviolet-B radiation and vitamin D in reducing case-fatality rates from the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic in the United States. Dermatoendocrinol. 2009;1(4): 215-9.
Vitamin C is been heard of as a general enhancer/ booster of immune system.
Good to know about Vitamin D- Prof. William.
One has to very sure that you are treating a viral not bacterial infection specially in early stage of illness which can guide the use of antibiotics.
One should differentiate viral from bacterial. Viral infection involving mucosal surfaces and abundance in commensals and normal flora may be given antibiotics as a prophylactic measure particularly in immunocompromised and deblitated. eg Viral sore throat in a patient with rheumatic fever.
Antibiotics in viral infections should be discouraged because they are unnecessary and contribute to anti microbial resistance developing in communities.
In many cases and in general practice viral infections are not diagnosed by laboratory tests unless for some important epidemics like in developing and under-developed countries and so antibiotics are prescribed in general may be to save illness or secondary invaders; also few viral infections are immunosuppressive and thus may need antibiotics
As stated above, In general practice in few countries viral infections are not confirmed by diagnostic tests and a person with fever and other symptoms are being prescribed antibiotics --- atleast these save life by bacterial infections (in undiagnosed cases) and secondary invaders in case of immunosuppressive viral agents, and even antbiotic sensitivity is not done in first instances......except viral epidemics - viral diagnostic facilities are not done routinely.
Theoretical, practical and logical discussions are three different things and depending on situations and circumstances vary from country to country.
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