Patterson Irrigator | Your Local Paper - ’Tis the season for colds and other bugs

January 7, 2009 Patterson, CA

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’Tis the season for colds and other bugs

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Written by R.D. O'Bryan \| Health Matters
Wednesday, 03 December 2008
A cold, a bug, the flu, a sinus infection, bronchitis, a cough — however you describe it in the next few months, “the season” is upon us. Richard O'Bryan / Health Matters If it hasn’t struck already, it is coming for you or someone in your family. I talked about our planet being covered in microorganisms a couple of months ago. I talked about how we are assaulted nearly every day by viruses and bacteria that exist all over our bodies, in the air we breathe, on every person and on virtually every surface we come into contact with. Our wonderful immune systems handle the vast majority of these “bugs” with no symptoms. Occasionally, we come into contact with something with a bit of a punch. Feeling “punched,” many will seek the help of a medical provider. There are few patients who expect to walk out of the medical office without some kind of prescription to help ease their ills. Probably the most highly anticipated and even expected prescription is one for an antibiotic. As has been widely discussed, antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria. Since most colds, coughs and the flu are caused by viruses, antibiotics have absolutely no value in treating them. Many consider antibiotics, effective or not, as harmless drugs to be given “just in case.” But there is nothing harmless about prescribing any medicine. In fact, antibiotics can make things worse when misused, giving patients diarrhea and yeast infections, thus prolonging the misery of their viral syndrome. Worst of all, antibiotics overuse is contributing to a frightening phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the evolution of “super-bacteria.” These are bacteria that were once susceptible to common antibiotics but, because of such overuse, have developed high degrees of resistance to the medicines. In some cases, the degree of resistance has caused fatal outcomes. Antibiotics are still a crucial weapon in combating infectious diseases. The key is knowing when to use the right weapon for the right problem at the right time. Just as health care practitioners wouldn’t put everyone on blood pressure medicine for a headache “just in case,” antibiotics should not be given out in such a manner. Talk to your health care practitioner and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site (www.cdc.gov) for more information on the appropriate use of antibiotics. Richard O’Bryan is a nationally board certified and licensed physician assistant and a licensed paramedic who practices at the Patterson First Care clinic. You can e-mail him questions and suggestions at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Set as favorite Bookmark Email This Hits: 138 Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment smaller \| bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.