Antibiotics for chest infection???

Question

My doctor has given me antibiotics for a chest infection. I had a fever and aches and pains in the days before the infection. I understand that most chest infections are caused by a virus which antibiotics have no effect against. I am against taking antibiotics for anything as the over use and over prescription of them is making them less effective. How could my doctor know it is a bacterial infection rather than a viral infection? She only listened to my breathing with a stethiscope and said one side of my lungs is crackling.
What's your opinion?

Answer 1

Usually by the time the fluid reaches the lungs it can become infected. They virus may have caused the cold, but bacteria can form in the fluid once it reaches the lung. Mucus is full of biological matter, (dust, mites, pollen, etc) and these things break down and cause infection in the warm moist environment of your lung.

I am against taking antibiotics as well. So i agree with your concern. However, I also have had walking pneumonia caused by a secondary bactrial infection, which was caused by a virus.

There is no sure fire way to know that yours is a bacterial infection, short of draining hte fluid in your lung and testing it. But it is a good safety measure to take the antibiotic.

I would take it, and then be sure to eat well and exercise once your illness has passed. Perhaps take a good vitamin, (which you should always anyway). That way your body will be able to quickly reestablish its own defense systems. Also, eat pleanty of yogurt, it will help your digestive system get back together as the medication will kill off the natural bacteria it needs to function properly.

Answer 2

It could be viral or bacterial. A lot of people have a cough that is due to a virus, like a cold, and this wont get any benefits from antibiotics. However, if you have a chest infection (which shows as a crackly chest and coughing up yellow or green spit) then this is likely to be bacterial, and antibiotics are the way to go. Of course it is difficult to be certain, but this is what is the most likely.

As to whether to take them or not, well if you are young and healthy then you will probably get over a chest infection without them, but if you have health problems or are more elderly then it can make you quite unwell. You said you had a fever with it, so it sounds like it might be a bad infection, so it might be better to take them. Its always up to you, but feel free to go back to your doctor and discuss how strongly they feel you need to have them. They may have just given them to you to be on the safe side, so discuss your reservations with the doctor. They may say see how you do without, but if they still advise antibiotics then best to take their advice.

Answer 3

I think that it is probably standard to help ensure that the infection doesn't spread if its bacterial. He will probably follow up with you soon to see if the antibiotics have helped. If it is viral he might have to take more serious measures that may be more invasive and expensive for you. Also maybe your symptoms reflected that of a bacterial infection. I would advise taking them to be on the safe side. I know what you mean about the body becoming resistant, but if your lungs are sounding bad its better safe than sorry. Besides you don't want an infection in your blood, then you could get really sick or die.

Answer 4

u see, there soo many causative agents of chest infection and the predominant ones are caused by bacteria, though viruses do cause such infections but u see u are a bit wrong for saying most chest infections are caused by viruses. also u have an excelent knowledge on the over use of antibiotics, it's a good move u are aware of that but since your doctor prescribed that, i think she knows what is wrong with u and by the way, crackling of the lungs are liable to be caused by a bacteria know as pneumocystis pneumonia. i think u should just do what the doctor said to you,but though i like precautionary abilities.

Answer 5

The symptoms you describe suggest bacterial rather than viral infection which is why you doctor prescribed an antibiotic. As long as you take antibiotics for those disorders that truly require it, you should not develop resistant bacteria. This is a conditon that truly requires it. If you prefer to refrain from taking them for minor infections, bronchitis for example, that's your decision. You'll survive without them.

Answer 6

If you'd rather the body try to heal itself, some years ago I went from being a racing cyclist to a wheezer-geezer, with a horrible chest infection tagged as 'atypical pneumonia', and on recommendation, the relief came when I involved gravity. An inversion table is ideal, or just lie on a board, but you have to get your nose and throat well below your waist, so all the nasty krud in your lungs has to roll down and out. It's really very unpleasant, and you'll cough till you want to pass out, with a massive head-rush, but it worked for me. As soon as you can after some sessions, go for a jog (you won't want to) and finish it off with a sprint so you're really puffing and wheezing (and sorry, this is gross, but hacking-up even more of this fried-egg type snot.)

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Answer 8

Even if a virus causes the fluid build-up, the infection that is caused by that fluid is a bacteria. Especially if you're on something like zithromax, that is a good one that will knock out the infection really fast, too fast for it to really mutate and spread.

Answer 9

Because it most likely is a upper respitory infection, considering its the season for it. Not to mention if it was viral they would of had to do bloodwork and you would have different symptoms. So I would suggest that you do take the antibiotics before it goes into phenmonia

Answer 10

Shouldn't you have discussed your concerns with your doctor while you were there, instead of waiting and asking a bunch of strangers?

Your doctor (or one of the nurses) is still the only person who can address this issue. Phone the office right now before it closes for the weekend.