ANTIBIOTICS

Firstly, a note on these commonly prescribed and powerful medicines. They only work on bacteria and are without effect on viruses. Unfortunately, this means that the common infections like coughs, colds and flu etc. will not be helped by them at all.

The correct treatments are the simple remedies outlined below and it is only when they fail and we suspect that there is a secondary bacterial infection that we use antibiotics.

Overuse of antibiotics may lead to them not working in future and complications such as thrush or diarrhoea. These are not allergies and the drug could be used again in the future.

Rashes starting during a course of antibiotics may suggest an allergy to that antibiotic and should be discussed with a doctor.

It will usually be several days into the antibiotic course before you start feeling better. If you are feeling much worse, you may want to discuss it with your doctor.