Docs writing fewer scripts

Science News ^ | August 18th, 2009 | Nathan Seppa

[neverdem]

People are less likely to get antibiotics for respiratory infections

Since the mid-1990s, doctors have written fewer antibiotic prescriptions per year for respiratory infections, a new survey shows.

The drop in these prescriptions in the United States per thousand people from 1995 to 2006 is 36 percent in children under age 5 and 18 percent among persons age 5 and up, researchers report in the Aug. 19 Journal of the American Medical Association.

Many respiratory infections do not typically require antibiotics, including influenza, viral pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, common colds and other infections caused by viruses. Infections more deserving of antibiotics include middle ear infections, sinus infections, tonsillitis and nonviral pneumonia...

But the decline in prescriptions also shows that doctors are concerned about bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics, Griffin says.

[mysterio]

Go figure — VIRAL infections don’t respond to antibiotics. Who knew?!?

True. However, it's not quite that clear cut for all of us. Some of us have lung problems that leave us susceptible to secondary infections. Nearly every time I catch a viral respiratory tract infection, it progresses to a bacterial secondary within a week. Luckily my physician knows my medical history and doesn't play the antibiotics rationing game with me. If that were to change, I would change physicians immediately.

[Ditter]

Same here. I don't get the lung infection but a viral head cold leaves me with a sinus infection and the flu will leave me with a bronchial infection. It happens every single time and my doctor knows it.

[mysterio]

Exactly. It should be a patient by patient basis.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I haven't taken antibiotics for a sinus infection since I have been using the Neti Pot. You must be faithful and use it 4 times a day until the bacteria gives up for lack of traction."

Interesting. I've never tried that many "shots/day". Thanks, and I'll pass it on to the wife, and if, as, and when I have my next sinus infection, I'll give it a shot.

I'll swap you your sinus infection hint for a virus hint. Something that I have found to work is, when the very first inklings of a virus show up (itchy nose, sneezing, whatever), climb into your bed or recliner with a heating pad and as many blankets as you can stand, and "roast yourself" for as long as you can take it. Two times out of three, this kills the virus before the body's immune system gets cranked up enough for you to start running fever.

The Native Americans (and the Scandahoovians) were right with the "sweat lodges" and saunas.

[nina0113]

My dentist does not give out any Vicodin, etc. to ANY patient under ANY circumstances. Isn’t that a bit odd? His answer is to take Tylenol or Advil for any kind of tooth pain.

Mine gave me 20 a year ago after a root planing and I still have some. I'd been thinking mean thoughts until I actually collected the prescription - I hadn't realized it was for 20, and was slightly ticked that they didn't just hand me ONE. That was all I was expecting, and all I needed at the time. I've been cutting the rest in half to get through construction projects.

[nina0113]

...climb into your bed or recliner with a heating pad and as many blankets as you can stand, and "roast yourself" for as long as you can take it.

If you take nyquil to knock yourself out, you can stand it a lot longer. I wash down a couple of liquicaps with a big glass of juice and settle down. When I wake up I repeat the process and I'm rarely down for more than a day.

[Ditter]

Thanks back atcha’. I'll try your “sweat lodge” trick. If I get the flu or a cold today all I'd have to do is
spend a little time in my back yard.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

How much Vit D do you take?

[Pinkbell]

Thanks for the recommendation. I had never heard of those, but I will definitely have to consider getting one. I haven’t had a bad upper respiratory infection since last Thanksgiving, but I am starting with a cold now. I’m leaving for vacation tomorrow, so I won’t be able to get one until I get back.

I’m hoping the Zicam I am using helps. I was using the nasal gel until I discovered on their website that they had pulled it off the market in June. I switched to the Zicam dissolve pill tonight, so I’ll have to see how it works. I’m hoping it works, as the gel seemed to work well.

[Pinkbell]

I don’t any Vit D vitamins.