Do you also take antibiotics regularly? Then know this dangerous truth! (Antibiotic Overuse)

Do you sometimes feel like, "Oh, doctor, please prescribe me some antibiotics, so I can get well soon," when you catch a cold or have a sore throat? You may even ask your doctor for them. But do we really know if these antibiotics are effective for all diseases, or what dangerous things can happen if we use them too much? Today, we will talk a little about this very important topic, the problems of unnecessary use of antibiotics (Antibiotic Overuse).

What exactly is this overuse of antibiotics?

Simply put, we call this "overuse" or ``Antibiotic Overuse'' when we use antibiotics when they are not really needed . Just think, these antibiotics are truly a great discovery in medical science. How many lives have been saved because of them! Some diseases that killed people at that time, we can now cure thanks to antibiotics.

But, the problem is that when we use this valuable medicine more than we need, that is, when we don't need it , something unimaginably dangerous happens. That is, some bacteria `(bacteria)` adapt to these drugs in a way that makes them resistant, that is, they don't work. Then we call those bacteria `(resistant bacteria)`. Think of it like an enemy getting used to your traditional weapons and not being able to kill them with those weapons. Then, the next time that bacteria gets sick, the antibiotic that was given before, that worked before, won't work at all. It becomes very difficult to cure the disease.

What problems can these resistant bacteria cause?

This is a very serious matter, you know. Imagine, an illness that could have been cured in the past two or three days with a simple antibiotic, is now very difficult to cure due to these resistant bacteria. Sometimes the illness can become more serious, you may have to stay in the hospital for several days, and sometimes it can even be life-threatening.

For example, some germs that previously responded well to antibiotics are now becoming increasingly resistant to these drugs. This is because:

• Severe lung infections such as pneumonia .
• Ear infections are common in young children.
• Sinus infections.
• Meningitis is a very dangerous condition that resembles brain fever.

Diseases like this can become more severe and difficult to cure.

Not only that, but even diseases like some skin infections and the dreaded tuberculosis that we have all heard of can become difficult to treat due to these resistant bacteria. Just think about how long it takes to treat tuberculosis and how many medications you have to take. What a problem it would be if the bacteria became resistant to those medications too!

What diseases do antibiotics actually work against?

This is the most important thing we all need to understand. There are two main types of germs that can make us sick. They are bacteria and viruses . Although they sometimes cause similar symptoms (e.g. fever, body aches, cough), the way they spread disease and the way they work inside our bodies are very different.

Let's look at bacteria first.

Bacteria are single-celled organisms. They're like tiny animals. They're all around us - in the soil, in the water, in the air, on our bodies, even inside our bodies. Most bacteria don't harm us, and sometimes they even help us. Think of the good bacteria in our intestines, without them we wouldn't be able to digest food.

However, some types of bacteria are very harmful. They enter our bodies, multiply rapidly (i.e., infect), and interfere with our body's normal processes. That's when we get bacterial infections. For example, things like a wound that festers, some types of sore throats (like strep), and urinary tract infections.

This is exactly what antibiotics do for bacterial infections. Antibiotics kill these bacteria, or stop them from growing and multiplying.

So what are viruses?

Viruses, on the other hand, are non-living particles. They are not organisms with their own cells like bacteria. They cannot grow or reproduce on their own. They do so only after they enter a living cell like ours. It's like a burglar breaking into a house and using the things in it to do his work.

Our immune system can recognize some viruses as soon as they enter our body and control them before they cause illness. However, there are some viral infections like the common cold, flu, dengue, chickenpox, and measles, for which there are specific anti-viral medications, but most of the time these just come and our body's immunity decreases within a few days.

This is the most important thing: Antibiotics do not work against viruses at all! If you take antibiotics when you have a cold, you are just putting unnecessary medicine into your body. It will not help you get better.

So why do doctors sometimes prescribe more antibiotics than necessary?

Now you might be wondering, "So why does my doctor sometimes give me antibiotics for colds?" There could be several reasons for this.

• Misdiagnosis: Sometimes, it's hard to tell from symptoms alone whether an illness is caused by bacteria or a virus. Or, while waiting for the results of a blood test, a doctor may start antibiotics as a precaution, thinking that the illness is bacterial and that it could be serious.
• Patient influence: This is also a big reason. Some patients expect an antibiotic. There are times when they ask the doctor himself, thinking, "Oh, doctor, this won't get better without antibiotics." Sometimes the doctor himself has to succumb to this influence.
• Misconceptions: Take a sore throat, for example. Strep throat is a bacterial infection. It usually requires antibiotics. However, most of the time (about 80 percent of the time), a sore throat is caused by a virus, an allergy, or something else, such as a dry throat. Antibiotics do not help. However, many people with a sore throat go to the doctor expecting an antibiotic. Sometimes, they get an antibiotic even though they don't need it. We've all probably had experiences like this, haven't we?

How can we reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics?

This is the responsibility of all of us, because antibiotic resistance is a global threat.

• Do not take medication without a doctor's prescription: Never buy antibiotics from the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. Do not assume that a medication prescribed to a friend or family member will work for you.
• Don't pressure the doctor : When you go to a doctor, don't pressure them to give you antibiotics. The doctor will examine you and decide whether you really need antibiotics or not. You can ask the doctor, "Doctor, is this a bacterial infection? Do I really need antibiotics?"
• Take the full course of medication: If a doctor prescribes antibiotics, even if the pain subsides a little in two or three days, you should take the medication exactly for the full number of days prescribed, at the prescribed time, and in the prescribed dosage. Otherwise, there is a high chance of developing the resistant bacteria I mentioned earlier.
• Do not keep leftover medicine or give it to others: Do not take leftover antibiotics from a previous illness and take them the next time you get sick. Also, do not give the antibiotics you were prescribed to someone else. Because not all antibiotics are suitable for all illnesses, and the dosage may vary.
• Follow good health habits: By following good health habits like washing your hands with soap and water regularly, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and staying clean, we can reduce the number of times we get sick. That also reduces the number of times we need antibiotics, right?

So what are the most important things we should remember from this story? (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so here are the most important things to take into account from what we've talked about today:

• Antibiotics are a very valuable medicine that is only given for bacterial infections .
• If these are used excessively, that is, unnecessarily, bacteria become resistant to these drugs. Then, even a common illness becomes very difficult to treat, and the illness can even become severe.
• Antibiotics are ineffective against illnesses caused by viruses (e.g., the common cold, flu).
• Never take antibiotics without a doctor's advice. Don't force your doctor to give you antibiotics. Trust your doctor.
• If you are prescribed antibiotics, take the full course, in the prescribed dose, for the prescribed period of time. Don't stop taking them just because you feel better.
• Do not reuse any leftover antibiotics or give them to anyone else.

If we all understand these things and act responsibly, we will be able to preserve these valuable antibiotics for future generations. It is very important to be very careful when using antibiotics, considering your own health and that of your loved ones. Got it?

` Antibiotics, Antibiotic Overuse, Bacteria, Viruses, Resistant Bacteria, Resistant Bacteria, Health