- Medications
- Antibiotics
Antibiotics
Antibiotic, course of antibiotics, antibiotic course
Antibiotics - the plural of antibiotic - are medications that help fight an infection caused by bacteria. Antibiotic is Latin for 'against life' and it kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria. One of the oldest known forms of an antibiotic is penicillin. This was the first medication with which people could protect themselves against deadly bacteria.
What are antibiotics used for?
For severe bacterial infections, the use of antibiotics is indispensable. Examples include meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia. However, antibiotics are not useful for infections caused by viruses, fungi, or parasites.
Doctors are cautious about prescribing antibiotics, especially when the human body is able to fight the bacterial infection on its own. This largely depends on how well our defense system (immune system) works. For each person, it will be assessed whether the body is strong enough to fight the bacteria in question without the help of antibiotics.
What are possible side effects of antibiotics?
Unfortunately, the use of antibiotics can also cause side effects. Common side effects are diarrhea or loose stools. This is because antibiotics also attack the good bacteria in the intestine. Another common side effect is hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction. This manifests as fever, shortness of breath, or fainting.
Where are antibiotics available?
Antibiotics are only available on prescription from a (family) doctor or specialist. Administration of the antibiotic differs by type or brand name and comes in the form of drops, tablets, liquid, injections, and dispersible tablets.
An antibiotic course generally lasts five to ten days.
Antibiotics were actually discovered by accident.
Almost a century ago, in 1928, Alexander Fleming made the important discovery of penicillin during a failed experiment, the first known antibiotic. Fleming was investigating the staphylococcus bacterium and during the failed experiment he noticed that the mold Penicillium notatum secreted a bactericidal substance that killed the staphylococcus bacterium.