| The public are now generally aware that antibiotics | | | | considered if you are aged and have a |
| will only help with bacterial infections. Most chest | | | | temperature over 38 (100F), or any other |
| infections of the upper respiratory system are | | | | condition such as Asthma or a long term condition |
| caused by a virus of which there are over 150 | | | | of the lungs, you are a smoker with chronic |
| strains. | | | | obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and if |
| Although antibiotics were used extensively in the | | | | your immune system is compromised as a result |
| past for a chest infection, they are not normally | | | | of Cancer treatment chemotherapy, or you have |
| recommended as they can do more harm than | | | | diabetes or pleurisy which is the inflammation of |
| good, as there is now increasing concerns with | | | | the lining of the lungs. |
| the side effects of chemical medicine. Studies | | | | PNEUMONIA |
| have shown that antibiotics will not increase the | | | | The greatest benefit of antibiotics seemed to be |
| recovery time of an illness in fact, it is known | | | | for reducing the risk of pneumonia after a chest |
| that they can have a detrimental effect on other | | | | infection, particularly in the elderly. This conclusion |
| medication which might have been prescribed, | | | | was as a result of research by I. Peterson and |
| such as Warfarin the blood thinning drug or the | | | | colleagues of The Centre for Infectious Disease |
| contraceptive pill which can make the pill | | | | and Epidemiology, Department of Primary Care |
| ineffective. Antibiotics are known to disturb the | | | | and Population Sciences, University College, |
| gut flora which affects the healthy populations of | | | | London. They found that the greatest benefit of |
| bacteria in the body. | | | | administering antibiotics for pneumonia reduced |
| The other reason that antibiotics are not now | | | | the risk after a chest infection. The size of this |
| preferred is the knowledge that bacteria have the | | | | risk increased with the age of the patients. In the |
| remarkable ability to mutate becoming resistant | | | | over 65 groups, 403 patients per 1000 were at |
| to other stronger and ever more sophisticated | | | | risk of pneumonia, if a chest infection was |
| drugs developed to combat them. | | | | untreated .This was reduced to 146 per 1000 if |
| The immune deficiency effect is the concern of | | | | treated with antibiotics. Just 39 patients over 65 |
| modern medicine throughout the world. George | | | | years would need to be treated with antibiotics to |
| Jacoby of the Harvard Medical School, quoted in | | | | prevent one case of pneumonia compared to 119 |
| Laurie Garret's book, 'The Coming Plague- Newly | | | | patients between the ages of 1 and 64 year. |
| Emerging Diseases of the World out of Balance', | | | | Their studies taken from records between 1991 |
| Penguin Books-"Bugs are always figuring ways to | | | | and 2001 concluded that antibiotics should only be |
| get around the antibiotics we throw at them, | | | | prescribed in more serious cases of chest |
| they adapt and come roaring back again", no | | | | infections. |
| wonder, bacteria were around long before man | | | | PREVENTION |
| inherited the earth and will always find around the | | | | Your immune system will be stronger and you will |
| antibiotic effect, and chest infections antibiotics in | | | | be better able to prevent viral and bacterial |
| particular. | | | | infections if you lead a healthier lifestyle! |
| Chest infection antibiotics will normally only be | | | | |