It is the season for cold, flu,
respiratory bugs and other ailments that may end up resulting in a
trip to the doctor's office or emergency room. Fluoroquinolone
antibiotics are widely prescribed for a variety of infections. With
that in mind, Quinolone Vigilance Foundation would like to take a few
minutes to discuss the difference between viral and bacterial
infections.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are meant
to treat anthrax and the
plague. Because of its potency,
they cause severe adverse reactions such as tendinitis, tendon
rupture, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, muscle wasting, peripheral
neuropathy, tremors, insomnia, anxiety, memory loss, brain fog,
visual and auditory impairment, persistent gastric problems, food and
chemical sensitivities, tinnitus, arrhythmia, and dysautonomia. They
also cause psychiatric issues, and Mitochondrial Toxicity which can
lead to neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's, ALS, and
Alzhemiers.
Viruses
cause infections such as a cold, the flu, and also the Enterovirus
which has been making headlines in recent weeks. In those cases, a
prescription for an antibiotic would be inappropriate. It is not
unheard of though. As a “just in case” treatment, doctors may
prescribe a fluoroquinolone like Cipro, Levaquin, or Avelox because
it's a broad spectrum antibiotic, and they don't realize that they
are causing more harm by prescribing them.
Bacteria
cause infections such as bronchitis, urinary tract infection,
pneumonia, and strep throat. Antibiotics are an effective treatment
for bacterial infections so always ask for your infection to be
cultured before accepting an antibiotic. If one becomes necessary,
ask for something safer as an alternative to a fluoroquinolone.
Viruses
and bacterial infections can carry the same symptoms so it is
important to know the difference between a viral and bacterial
infection. Both are caused by microbes. Microbes can cause three
kinds of infections:
- Acute infections which are short-lived.
- Chronic infections which can last days, weeks, months, or indefinitely.
- Latent infections which may not cause symptoms in the beginning, but may reactivate later on.
Symptoms
they have in common are coughing,
sneezing, vomiting, fatigue;
it's your body's way of trying to get rid of infectious organisms.
Where
viruses and bacterial infections vary is in its structure and its
response to medications.
Some
illnesses can be caused by a virus or bacteria such as pneumonia and
meningitis. Seek medical attention in either case, but insist on
blood and urine cultures which will dictate proper and safe
treatment. Non life-threatening viruses generally need to run its
course without medication intervention. The overuse of antibiotics
for infections that don't need it have been linked to
antibiotic-resistant microbe strains, a real and dangerous problem
world-wide.
Measures
can be taken to keep from getting sick, but if you do, it's best to
be vigilant about the course of treatment and keep yourself safe.
Rachel
Brummert
President/Executive
Director
Quinolone
Vigilance Foundation
rachel@saferpills.org
No comments:
Post a Comment