he didnt say it was a bacterial or virus infection, he didnt do any tests throat swab or anything he just looked at my throat with his little torch lol how could he tell i require antibiotics, if it is a virus it should clear on its on and i shouldnt be taking antibiotics, however i was in extreme pain with my neck and throat so i guess it is bacterial... how long should the medicine take to work?
2007-12-18 01:18:12 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Some doctors just fling antibiotics at all of their patients because they think the patients will get upset if they don't and it's easier than doing a proper workup. I guess it's up to you on whether to take them or not. If your tonsils have white or yellow spots on them and your throat is very red it is probably strep throat and you should take the antibiotic. If it's just red and bumpy it might be either.
If it's bacterial and you take it you should start feeling better in a couple of days. Of course if it's a virus and you're almost over it it might clear up coincidentally with the antibiotic too. ;-)
Incidentally, the reason antibiotics should not be overprescribed is not so that *you* won't develop a resistance to the antibiotic, it's so that *bacteria* won't develop a resistance to the antibiotic.
2007-12-18 01:28:51 · answer #1 · answered by Beetle in a Box 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's why I never go to the doctor. They prescribe antibiotics as a placebo for every ailment. Especially viral infections like colds and flu. They do it mostly because there's nothing they can do about a viral infection, but people want to know that their doctor is doing something to help them, so they prescribe the antibiotics and you feel like your doctor has done something to help you.
The problem is antibiotics don't do a thing for a viral infection. They can also have nasty side effects such as reducing your immune response, killing off natural intestinal fauna, and an increasing likelihood of creating antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Your sore throat could be caused by anything, but is most likely either viral, allergic, or simply laryngital. Either way, your doctor could only know for sure after doing a throat culture. You should probably go back to your doctor and discuss these concerns with him. If he doesn't give you a straight answer about the cause of your sore throat, get a second opinion. Until then, I'd suggest giving him the benefit of the doubt and keep taking the penecillin. He DID take 8 years of school to get that Dr in front of his name and he may be more aware of a specific ailment going around.
:edit:
A lot of people are saying that the doc doesn't need a swab if it's something "obvious" like strep. A few years ago (well, like 10 years ago) strep throat was rampant in my town and my family started developing sore throats. We all went in to get tested, we all had swabs done. My siblings had strep, but lucky me I had something different but with similar symptoms. Of course I was too young to care whether it was viral or bacterial, but the point is that a proper culture is the only way to be absolutely sure what's causing your sore throat.
2007-12-18 09:30:03 · answer #2 · answered by Socks 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't sell your doctor short. He did what he thought was right. With infections there are certain signs that doctors are trained to look for that indicate bacteria vs virus. If you are taking the antibiotic as directed you should start to feel better in a couple days. If you are not, do not stop taking the medicine. Call your doctors office and tell them it isn't working.
2007-12-18 09:23:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your doc probably knows that strep is going around, and your throat probably looked like it had a strep (bacteria) infection - white spots, pus, swollen, red, swollen glands on your neck, etc.
Penicillin is the best thing to wipe out the strep. You will feel better in a couple of days of taking the medicine, just make sure you take ALL of the medicine so your body doesn't become resistant to the antibiotic.
2007-12-18 09:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by Shana B 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your doctor probably saw inflammation of the throat and recognized it as a bacterial infection (ie, streptococcus). No swab needed.
You should start feeling better in about 24-48 hrs. Good luck
2007-12-18 09:22:26 · answer #5 · answered by Juicy Fruit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is it possible that he has seen this type of infection enough to know what the cause and treatment is? If you take is as prescribed, you should see improvements within a few days, just make sure you finish taking it all.
2007-12-18 09:23:07 · answer #6 · answered by Leather and Lace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
penicillin works very fast within the first few days of use but you should be on it for 2 weeks to be positive the infection was completely cleared. if your pain is very bad, he might not need tests if he's a good doc
2007-12-18 09:22:36 · answer #7 · answered by ccurtis92 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
take all of it. it should start to work after a day or so. He should have prescribed some pain medicine for you also, because it is going to take a while for the pain to go away.
2007-12-18 09:30:01 · answer #8 · answered by Ashley C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it a little while. Penecillin [is a bacteria as well and it] needs time to fight off the infection. As soon as it is injected it should start doing its job. Give it 24 - 48hours.
2007-12-18 09:23:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
take it till the medicine is finished, even if the pain goes
once the inflamation goes down, the pain will ease
heavy coughing could iritate it though
2007-12-18 09:22:53 · answer #10 · answered by steven m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋