Sick for 7 days denied antibiotics...why?

Question

I have been suffering with bronchitus and an upper respitory infection for 7 days and feel almost as bad today as I did when I first came down with it. I went to the doctor on the 4th day because the coughing hurt so deeply and I could barely breath. He gave me cough syrup with codeine and an inhaler to help me breath. He told me that since I was almost "done" he wouldn't give me the antibiotics. Well, I'm most certainly not almost done. My chest is on fire and when I breath I have a rattling in my chest. I feel like a wet dishrag all worn out.

In the past I've received antibiotics and was better in a day or so. Why this new take on the drug. I'm suffering but am now too sick to even drive myself to the doctor.. Any ideas about this?

Answer 1

Bronchitis can be caused by both viruses and bacteria. Your doctor may feel that yours is viral and in that case an antibiotic would be totally ineffective.

Or, if it is bacterial and you are 7 days into it, then chances are good the infection will clear up very soon, especially you did not mention having any fever.

What you are suffering from is the effects of having all of that mucus accumulated in your head and chest. The rattling noise is actually a good sound - that means the secretions have loosened up and the infection has run its course.

Sure, you might be coughing the stuff out for many more days (or even weeks) but that is the body's natural way of getting rid of it.

An antibiotic will do nothing to clear up the mucus or make you feel less "worn out." Guafenesin, steam vapors, inhalers, liquids and LOTS of rest will be much more effective.

The only thing left to treat now are unpleasant symptoms, and that's just what your doctor did.

I know you are feeling bad, but things will get better soon.

Answer 2

Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. You probably have a viral infection, which means antibiotics would be totally ineffective (and potentially harmful because you could promote resistance).

When your antibiotics worked in the past, you either had a bacterial infection or you were going to get better anyways in a day or so.

In the meantime, your doctor can give you more breathing treatments and prednisone or a similar drug to help with your symptoms.

Answer 3

good medical practice isto NOT use antibiotics for acute respiratory illness until you have been sick for 7-10 days. viral infections usually last that long. antibiotics don't help viral infections. treating with an antibiotic when you don't need it just kills off good natural bacteria and increases resistance.