When Are Antibiotics Helpful?

Before the discovery of antibiotics, your prognosis due to an infection was dire. In fact, complications due to an infection were the cause of at least 30% of all recorded deaths.

Today, antibiotics are incredibly effective in stopping infections in their tracks, but it is important to know in what situations they are effective. Our team at AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte explains more about responsible antibiotic use below!

What Do Antibiotics Work Against?

Antibiotics work against bacterial infections by stopping the growth and replication of the dangerous bacteria. It can take a few days for your symptoms to improve, but once they do, you will start to feel relief quickly.

One of the most important things to remember about antibiotics is that they only work against bacterial infections. Viral infections or other illnesses are not able to be treated by antibiotics. If you take antibiotics for an illness that is not able to be treated this way, you could end up suffering serious side effects.

##Common Bacterial Infections

  • UTI (urinary tract infection)
  • Strep throat
  • Ear or sinus infections
  • Bacterial pneumonias

How Can I Tell If I Have a Bacterial Infection?

In order to determine what kind of infection or illness you have, your medical provider will want to examine you and sometimes will run a few tests to determine a diagnosis. It can also be hard to tell the difference between a bacterial case and a viral one, so seeking a medical opinion is always recommended.

If it has been determined that you could benefit from a round of antibiotics, it is crucial that you take them according to the directions and take the entire prescription. Failure to do so can result in your infection coming back, and you could also be contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Signs of an Infection

  • Pain in the area of concern
  • Swelling
  • Fever
  • Muscle aches

If you need help determining what kind of infection you have, come see us at AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte to see if antibiotics are the treatment for you!