Prescription medicines are supplied by pharmacies based on needs and requirements, and nowhere is this more evident than in the prescription of antibiotics.
One of the most essential of essential medicines, antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections or stop them from spreading further.
As antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, their use is carefully controlled and if a doctor recommends that you take them, it is because they are considered to be the best possible treatment for a particular condition. Routine infections are not typically treated with antibiotics.
Whilst the circumstances surrounding antibiotic prescription can vary, there are some cases where antibiotics remain the main choice for treatment by doctors.
Where There Is A Risk Of Serious Complications
Some conditions have a risk of complications that make antibiotics the best course of treatment, such as pneumonia.
Commonly caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs, pneumonia is commonly treated using a complete course of antibiotics, fluids, painkillers and rest, and in many cases, a course of antibiotics may begin before test results are completed.
Similarly, the skin condition cellulitis is caused by a bacterial infection and is treated with antibiotics, with some people receiving long-term low-dose antibiotics if they are susceptible to recurring infections.
When Antibiotics Speed Up Recovery
There are some cases where antibiotics are not the only course of treatment that is effective, but they help the healing process so comprehensively that they are the first treatment that will be prescribed.
A kidney infection is a potentially serious form of urinary tract infection, and a GP may prescribe a short course of antibiotics, to be started either immediately or after two days in case the symptoms reduce by themselves.
In many cases, alternative courses of treatment or waiting out the symptoms is not an option.
When Antibiotics Are The Only Course Of Treatment
Not every condition treated with antibiotics is necessarily serious enough to risk hospitalisation, but there are some cases where the only effective treatment that will help it to clear up is antibiotics.
An example of this is acne, which is caused by the complex relationship between hormones and a typically harmless bacteria, which leads to inflammation, pus and spots.
Whilst mild acne will typically be treated with over-the-counter topical creams, moderate to severe acne can cause permanent scarring if not treated, which can take the form of either antibiotic tablets, topical solutions, or a combination of the two.
To Avoid Spreading An Infection To Other People
Some conditions treated with antibiotics are not serious but are highly contagious and therefore should be treated quickly to avoid spreading this infection to other people.
One of the most common examples of a condition like this is impetigo, a skin condition that can cause redness, sores and blisters and can spread through both skin-to-skin contact and through contact with anything touched by an infected person.
Prompt treatment with antibiotics can reduce the amount of time a person is at risk of being infectious, as well as avoid the risk of potentially serious complications for people who are more vulnerable to bacterial infections.