Why is it ineffective to treat viral disease with antibiotics?

Antibiotics help at bacterial, but not viral infections. It's necessary to know that application of antibiotics without prescription can be dangerous.

Why the doctor doesn't prescribe an antibiotic against cold?

Antibiotics help only at bacterial infections. Cold, cough, stuffy nose are symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), and antibiotics don't affect viruses

Why do I have to to wait for bacterial complications of ARVI? Is it possible to apply an antibiotic at once?

Preventive application of antibiotics at ARVI can lead to development of an infection caused by steady bacteria. Besides, antibiotics, as well as other medicines have side effects. They can even cause watery diarrhea with blood streaks.

Are green or yellow snivels a symptom of a bacterial infection?

Sinusitis is an inflammation of a mucous membrane of a nose and nasal sinus. Sinusitis is caused by a virus or an allergy, and in certain cases — bacteria.

Antibiotic can help at development of bacterial sinusitis (that happens seldom). Your doctor has to make necessary analyses to be convinced that the antibiotic is really necessary.

Are antibiotics necessary at sore throat?

Not always. In 80% of cases viruses are the reason of sore throat. If your throat hurts, you have cold and barking cough, then, most likely, it's a virus.

Antibiotics are prescribed for treatment of quinsy (sharp pharyngitis, sharp tonsillitis) caused by Я-hemolytic streptococci of group A.

How often do side effects at reception of antibiotics appear?

Side effects of antibiotics at reception of antibiotics (such as amoxil, zithromax, cipro, flagyl, levofloxacin) appear at 1 of 10 people. It can be rash, nausea, diarrhea, belly-aches, etc. Sometimes rash appears not at once but after the patient accepts an antibiotic during some longer time. At the same time each rash is an allergic reaction.

Ask for medical care at emergence of urticaria fever (looks like nettle burn), itch or rashes. This allergic reaction has to be surely brought in the medical record.

If reception of antibiotics can lead to development of steady forms of bacteria?

Frequent application of antibiotics or application when they aren't prescribed also repeated courses can lead to development of bacteria, which are steady against antibiotics. It's important to choose the antibiotic specific to this infection (bacterium). 7. Are there any drugs against viruses?

Use antiviral means only for treatment of some viral infections. For example, at flu special antiviral means can be prescribed to patients from risk groups (bronchial asthma, diabetes, etc.). At the same time for the majority of other viruses causing cold, cough and other symptoms, there are no antiviral medicines with the proved efficiency.