It is that time of year again when the leaves have fallen, temperatures drop in our state, and colds and flu symptoms strike many Minnesotans. While it is tempting to ask your health care provider for medicine to relieve your symptoms,
antibiotics online without rx may not be the answer.
Viral illnesses like acute bronchitis, the common cold and influenza cannot be treated or cured with antibiotics, which work against bacteria, said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). “Antibiotics won’t ease symptoms caused by viruses, prevent the spread of viruses to others or shorten a viral illness,” Lynfield said.
Antibiotic use contributes to
antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria change in a way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of antibiotics, Lynfield explained. “Even in Minnesota we are seeing cases of bacterial infections that are highly resistant to the commonly used antibiotics,” she said. “All of us have a role in making sure that antibiotics are used wisely.”
This week, MDH joins the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many other states in observing “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week” Nov. 15-21 (www.cdc.gov/Features/GetSmart/). MDH has sent information to local public health agencies and health care providers on the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. For more information visit the MDH website at
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/antibioticresistance/index.html.
MDH is reminding health care consumers that all of us need to work together to combat
antibiotics no prescription overnight cod delivery resistance by carefully using antibiotics. Here’s what you can do:
--Don’t demand antibiotics from your health care provider. Let your doctor decide when antibiotics should be prescribed.
--Antibiotics won’t relieve the symptoms associated with a viral infection. Talk to your health care provider about what will help you feel better.
--If you are prescribed an antibiotic, take the antibiotic exactly as the doctor prescribes. Do not skip doses. Complete the prescribed course of treatment, even if you start feeling better.
--Only take antibiotics prescribed for you; don’t share or use leftover antibiotics. Antibiotics have different levels of activity against different types of bacterial infections. This is why your health care provider should determine how and which antibiotics are used.
--Prevent infections through good hand hygiene and getting recommended vaccines, including influenza.
--While antibiotics will not be useful for most of the common upper respiratory infections that occur this time of year, there are some things you can do to help prevent them and keep them from spreading to others:
--Do your best to stay healthy. Get plenty of rest, physical activity and healthy eating.
--Stay home from school or work if you are sick.
--Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue whenever you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue away, and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, and wash your hands.
--Clean surfaces you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones.
--Wash your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol based, waterless hand sanitizer.
--If you think you may have influenza and have a condition that may put you at increased risk for severe influenza, contact your health care provider promptly to discuss if influenza treatment is appropriate. If your symptoms worsen, contact your health care provider. For more information on influenza see the MDH website at www.mdhflu.com.
Putting together a “Cough and Cold Care Kit” may be a good way to plan for the cough and cold season. Ingredients can include tissues, packaged chicken soup, tea, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Cough and cold medicines should not be given to young children. For more information, visit
http://canada-pills.org/products/antibiotics/