Posted on 07/23/2008 5:19:54 AM PDT by yankeedame
Socialized (RomneyCARE=HillaryCARE) medicine decreases availability of excellent care.
Despite your handwaving, antibiotics ARE promptly needed for beta-hemolytic streptococcus infections.
I for the life of me cannot figure out my the AMA and other medical groups in America push for this crap. Neither can my wife. Misplaced compassion is her only thought; pure liberalism.
I had a wonderful doctor who told me about the salt water treatment. I was traveling and my sinuses and both ears got blocked. I could barely hear. I called my doctor, 3,000 miles away to get a decongestant. He said to forget about it, the decongestant would just turn everything into glue. Instead he said to go to the coffee shop in the hotel and get some salt and a straw and go back to my room and mix up the salt water. I got relief almost immediately and was able to hear and able to fly home the next day.
That doctor was so smart. One time I had cut my hand and it wouldn’t stop bleeding. He said that if the blood wasn’t spurting out, (it wasn’t), to put a wet teabag on it and I could come in and he’d look at it if I wanted. The tanic acid in the teabag totally stopped the bleeding. Be warned, it stings like heck.
True, but strep has more specific symptoms and can be tested for.
Our overuse of antibiotics is making them less effective.
There is a real danger to over prescribing them, and it is possible do a better job of identifying illnesses rather than just handing everyone a prescription for antibiotics and sending them on their way.
What you said and double. When I have a sore throat I don’t want antibiotics unless there is a positive strep test. I can call my doctor and schedule just a strep test with his nurse (not wasting his time) and if no strep; I just continue doing the regular voodoo for colds (rest, fluids, and OTC drugs to relieve symptoms. Anything else is just foolish. The fact that the British NHS has figured this out only proves the rule: even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while.
This is sound practice. Thirty-three years ago when I was a student/working in microbiology the professor I worked for was blasting the habit doctors had for prescribing antibiotics for every sore throat or cold. Her premise which was shared by most clinical and research microbiologists was that overuse would breed out succeptible strains of bacteria and leave only the “superbugs” that had developed the genetic immunity. ABs for viral ailments, especially minor ones created the resistant bacterial strains that are a problem today.
Doctors in the UK know this. Give them some credit. That is not the problem being addressed here.
Morkfork, could you ask her in what percentage of cases viruses cause infections to develop? And could/should they be tested for and antibiotics given then, rather than antibiotics being given proactively in every case?
Kinda flies in the face of the Hypocratic Oath doesn’t it?
Uh, excuse me, but I don't rightly recollect saying that antibiotics weren't needed for bacterial infections. However, they won't do ANYTHING for viral infections, (like the common cold) and frankly, the docs should be stopped from inappropriately prescribing them.
Doctors in the UK know this. Give them some credit. That is not the problem being addressed here.
Really? Docs in the US don't always get it, why should our UK and Canadian cousins be any different?
You are preaching to the choir here if you think I don't understand that Socialized medicine = Rationing. However, in this case, stopping antibiotics for common colds is simply prudent practice.
My youngest is now 36, and I would always refuse antibiotics for the kids’ sore throats unless a strep test was done, and positive. Drs. back then would argue with me, but I insisted.
I had read about the overuse of antibiotics in various womens’ magazines, even way back then!
Who needs the side effects of antibiotics, if these can be avoided? And what about the benefits of strengthening the immune system? Ya got to give it something to do!
But, here is another fun piece about UK docs from the July 23rd Daily Mail: All Doctors Face Annual Competence Tests to Protect Patients lives
Most American trained physicians and surgeons do not inappropriately use antibiotics.
Nevermind, found it:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1037358/Doctors-banned-dishing-antibiotics-sore-throats-colds.html
Thank you for protecting us from the morons masquerading as healers, hiding behind their worthless medical degrees. Hopefully, your degree didn't come from one of those schools jokingly referred to as 'accredited'.
I agree. Even our cousins across the pond will concur. From the article (which I've now actually read):
For some patients, such as children younger than two, the elderly and those with complications or pre-existing conditions, antibiotics should still be handed out immediately, the guidance says.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.