The use of antibiotics in the period directly after discovery did decrease the level of disease caused by infectious agents. however is it not also possible to state that a more important developement leading to a decrease in the mortality rate was the increase in hygeine and nutrition
2007-01-31 05:10:14 · 6 answers · asked by iain d 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
What a great question! I think that developments in hygiene and nutrition are probably the key factors. Prevention is better than cure...no denying that! Antibiotics can only help the human body by supporting the immune system when it is struggling...who is to say that left to its own devices the body wouldn't just heal itself? It may take longer...more suffering for the individual...possible worsening of co-morbid factors etc etc. This is a case of vulnerable groups...nobody can cheat death and dying. It is a double-edged sword...my brother was spared a whole lot of misery by receiving antibiotics promptly when he had meningitis (he made a full recovery). However, I have seen patients treated with antibiotics for infection only to get other infections/kidney problems/heart problems as a result of their antibiotics. I, personally, am allergic to most antibiotics (as discovered in childhood) so I have been left to fight off any bugs myself (chest infections/ear infections and infected eczema flares...nothing serious) In adulthood I have not really had any infections even though I work as a nurse...my eczema does still flare up and can get infected (probably only by own skin flora) but I leave it all to settle naturally and it eventually does. Maybe the (over)use of antibiotics is down to the 'quick-fix' mentality of modern society. Now we have resistant strains...and the powers that be reiterate the importance of....hygiene and optimal nutrition.
2007-01-31 05:33:11 · answer #1 · answered by Rocket 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another aspect in the resurgence of the disease is the development of drug resistant strains(TB) which now affect up to 50 million people in UK. These strains can be created by bad medical practice such as over-prescribing antibiotics or patients not taking the drugs long enough to get rid of the disease. Instead this encourages the bacteria to become tougher.
Treating patients with drug resistant TB is beyond the pocket of many developing countries. The cost of treatment can rise from $2000 per patient with non-resistant TB to $250,000 for multi-drug resistant TB.
The multi drug resistant strains are often fatal and have mortality rates that are comparable with those which existed before the development of antibiotics.
Similar is the case of other drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecium, etc.
2007-01-31 05:37:11 · answer #2 · answered by gangadharan nair 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections.....diseases such as Measles. Small Pox etc are not affected by ABs so yes the improvements in hygiene and nutrition have helped
2007-01-31 05:15:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Partly hygiene and nutrition. However things like kidney infection or gum disease along with stomach ulcer treatment and serious chest infections would have killed many in earlier times. Not to mention sexually transmitted diseases!
2007-01-31 05:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by Spiny Norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right. The misuse of antibiotics and mutation in bacteria leads to antibiotic resistance, and the need to discover more antibiotics. Prevention is better than cure.
2007-01-31 05:19:48 · answer #5 · answered by yakkydoc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct that public health has been most improved by improved sanitation and a clean water supply.
After these items, vaccinations have probably have been the most beneficial
2007-01-31 10:38:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋