Virus's , rsv, pnemonia & antibiotics?

Question

Am confused, nasty bug going round my local area at the moment. My son was in hospital with RSV, my mum was also admitted with pnemonia, my self and many other people got it as a nasty cold (the men called it flu!)
Many people were given anti-biotics including my mum. But surely this is a virus? As my son was tested for it and came cack positive. I was taught that antibiotics only killed bacteria not virusus. So why to the docs keeps trowing antibiotics at everyone??

Answer 1

i dont have much idea abou tthat ...

Answer 2

RSV is a virus. Most of us have had it as a child. Any child who hasn't had it will get it. It is misdiagnosed most of the time as bronchitis or pneumonia. All one can do is manage the symptoms and keep the child hydrated. Pneumonia can be caused by a virus, bacteria, atalectasis or by inhaling a foreign substance. If it is bacterial, it will be treated with antibiotics. If it's atelectic or aspiration (inhaling a foreign substance) pneumonia, they will most likely get antibiotics too. This will help fight any bacteria that starts to grow.

The very best way to prevent infection from virus's and bacteria is to eat right, wash your hands frequently and keep a clean living quarters.

Answer 3

Sadly, many people demand them,a s they do not know antibiotics are useless against viruses. Some doctors prescribe them as a prophylactic measure, fighting bacteria in case an additional infection occurs. Unfortunately, this is making many bacteria resistant to modern antibiotics. Things that used to respond to ordinary measures, now require new antibiotics, or simply do not respond at all. We should all limit our use of antibiotics and doctors really need to prescribe them less. Much less.

Answer 4

What starts out as a viral infections often leads to a secondary bacterial infection. This happened with the 1918 Spanish flu. Even though it was a viral infection, a big percentage died of secondary bacterial pneumonia.

(read last paragraph of the link)

Answer 5

They tend to prescribe them because the patients get upset if they don't. It also fights off secondary infections. I still think this is a bad course of action in the long run since it strengthens the bacteria. We are really only 2 steps ahead of the lastest virulent strains.

Answer 6

If people have lung disease (copd/asthma) sometimes docs will prescribe antibiotics. If their cough was bad enough for the doc to think it was pneumonia or bronchitis, sometimes they;ll prescribe antibiotics. Your thinking is correct (as other's have stated)

Answer 7

You are correct. Antibiotics are for bacterial infection only. Unless you heard the wrong diagnosis or there is a bacterial infection you didn't hear, then I think you should ask the doctors then why they prescribed antibiotics.

Answer 8

,,,,,,,,,if yer doc didn't take swabs in an effort to grow cultures a find the causative critter,,,,,,,,,,,,,then he shows laziness,addhd & maybe learning disability.he & you might improve with help from alternative medical techniques,,ahr ahr ahr,,,,,,,,,,pneumonia means only that the lungs a rendered inadequate in air moving function because of fluid in the lungs,perhaps a nexus of bacteria or viral growths.recurrence of this problem might mean your family organism reacts to foods,dust,pets ,feathers,down,or maybe manmade or naturally occuring chemicals.