2008 Woodie Awards
Antibiotics used to battle cold season, infections
By Justine DiEmedio
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Features
Cold and flu season is in full swing. In every class, there is at least one person sneezing, sniffling, coughing and looking downright miserable. You wonder if you'll be next, and you think, "What will I do if that happens to me?"
Some people just reach into the medicine cabinet and pull out whatever antibiotics they have left over from the previous year. Often, antibiotics are viewed as a quick fix for any infection. People see no harm in taking them whenever they feel sick, or they stop taking them halfway through treatment as soon as they start to feel better.
However, it is important to understand that infections come in many different forms. Antibiotic therapy is not appropriate for all illnesses.
Antibiotics are powerful medications used to treat bacterial infections. They work by slowing the bacteria's growth within the body or killing the bacteria. They have no effect on viruses.
Bacteria are organisms found almost everywhere. Most bacteria are considered harmless and do not cause infections in humans. However, certain bacteria are known as pathogens. Pathogens are bacteria that can cause disease. Common bacterial illnesses are strep throat and some ear infections.
Viruses are organisms designed to live on the cells of the body. They invade healthy host cells, multiply inside the cell and cause cells to burst once they are invaded. The bursting allows the virus to spread in the body. Viruses are usually the culprit for the common cold and flu.
It is important to visit a doctor or the WCU Student Health Center to be evaluated by a health care professional before taking prescription medicine when sick. They can determine the cause of illness and give appropriate treatment.
Antibiotics are appropriate for some bacterial infections. However, antibiotic medications do not work for viral infections.
Common viral infections include the common cold, the flu and some ear infections. Most of the time, a cough, runny nose and sore throat also have a viral cause, unless it is strep throat - that's a bacterial infection. Contrary to popular belief, a person cannot determine if an illness is viral or bacterial based on the color of one's mucus. Yellow and green colored mucus can occur with either type of sickness.
Some people just reach into the medicine cabinet and pull out whatever antibiotics they have left over from the previous year. Often, antibiotics are viewed as a quick fix for any infection. People see no harm in taking them whenever they feel sick, or they stop taking them halfway through treatment as soon as they start to feel better.
However, it is important to understand that infections come in many different forms. Antibiotic therapy is not appropriate for all illnesses.
Antibiotics are powerful medications used to treat bacterial infections. They work by slowing the bacteria's growth within the body or killing the bacteria. They have no effect on viruses.
Bacteria are organisms found almost everywhere. Most bacteria are considered harmless and do not cause infections in humans. However, certain bacteria are known as pathogens. Pathogens are bacteria that can cause disease. Common bacterial illnesses are strep throat and some ear infections.
Viruses are organisms designed to live on the cells of the body. They invade healthy host cells, multiply inside the cell and cause cells to burst once they are invaded. The bursting allows the virus to spread in the body. Viruses are usually the culprit for the common cold and flu.
It is important to visit a doctor or the WCU Student Health Center to be evaluated by a health care professional before taking prescription medicine when sick. They can determine the cause of illness and give appropriate treatment.
Antibiotics are appropriate for some bacterial infections. However, antibiotic medications do not work for viral infections.
Common viral infections include the common cold, the flu and some ear infections. Most of the time, a cough, runny nose and sore throat also have a viral cause, unless it is strep throat - that's a bacterial infection. Contrary to popular belief, a person cannot determine if an illness is viral or bacterial based on the color of one's mucus. Yellow and green colored mucus can occur with either type of sickness.
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