Antibiotics

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics have saved many lives by treating potential life threatening infections, like scarlet fever, TB and typhus, amongst many bacterial infections.

'Antibiotics can kill bacteria by damaging different parts of the bacterial cell.' 'Viruses are not living cells.. Since viruses do not contain structures which antibiotics can attack, these drugs are useless against viruses'.

Unfortunately, many people take antibiotics for common viral infections like the common cold.

Over reliance on antibiotics has led to a situation where bacteria which used to be sensitive to a particular antibiotic develops resistance to that antibiotic. This has led to a situation where there is a race to continually develop newer antibiotics while the bacteria are developing resistance to the existing antibiotics used.

Valuable though they may be, antibiotics do have side effects.

For example, chloramphenicol can suppress bone marrow function.

Tetracycline can damage the growth of bones and teeth of children below 7 years old.

Amino glycosides can damage the auditory nerve, the kidneys and cause skin rashes and fevers.

Sulphonamides can cause rashes, fever, hepatitis, aplastic anemia and diabetes mellitus.

Antibiotics often disturb the balance of the bacteria in your intestines. It would be wise to take live yogurt during and after a course of antibiotics.

Alternatives to antibiotics include Echinacea and vitamin C and believe it or not, Honey

Aloe vera too has antibiotic effects. For details on this, check out The antibiotic effect of aloe vera