Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Medically Reviewed on 8/9/2021
Doctor's Notes on Antibiotics
Antibiotics frequently prescribed medications that are used to cure disease by killing or injuring bacteria. The first antibiotic was penicillin and today over 100 different antibiotics are used to cure everything from minor to life-threatening infections. The main classes of antibiotics include penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides. Antibiotics will only treat bacterial infections. They are useless against viral infections such as the common cold and fungal infections such as ringworm.
Common side effects of antibiotics may include soft stools or diarrhea or mild stomach upset. Tell your doctor if you have more serious side effects while taking antibiotics including
- vomiting,
- severe watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps,
- allergic reaction (shortness of breath, hives, itching, swelling of lips, face, or tongue, or fainting),
- rash,
- vaginal itching or discharge, or
- white patches on the tongue.
What Is the Treatment for the Side Effects of Antibiotics?
The treatment for the side effects of antibiotics depends on the side effect and the severity.
- For severe allergic reactions, emergency care with epinephrine or other intravenous medications may be used
- For gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea, the medication may need to be stopped or changed
- Do not stop taking any prescribed any medication without first talking to your doctor
- Taking probiotics along with antibiotics may decrease the incidence of serious side effects
- Discuss the use of probiotics with your doctor.
Stomach Pain : Nausea & Other Causes Quiz
QuestionBowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.
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Anal Abscess
Anal abscesses include perirectal abscess and perianal abscess. Both types of abscesses need immediate medical attention. Causes of anal abscesses include individuals with medical conditions such as diabetes, AIDS/HIV, Crohn's disease, those on immune system suppressor drugs, pregnancy, STDs, and anal fissures. Symptoms of anal abscesses include pain in the anal area, pus drainage near the anus, fever, lower abdominal pain, painful bowel movements, fatigue, and night sweats. Treatment of anal abscesses is often surgery. -
Appendicitis
The cause of appendicitis is not clear. Common symptoms of appendicitis include vague abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, constipation, diarrhea. Some people have no symptoms of appendicitis. Treatment for appendicitis is generally an appendectomy (removal of the appendix). -
Bacterial Pneumonia
Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. People with pneumonia usually experience coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death from infection. -
Brain Infection
Our brain, the spinal cord, and its surrounding structures could become infected by a large spectrum of germs (that is, microorganisms). Bacteria and viruses are the most common offenders. -
Bronchitis (Chronic)
Bronchitis is inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. There are several viruses and bacteria that cause bronchitis. Exposure to pollutants or tobacco smoke are also risks. Bronchitis is contagious if it is viral or bacterial. It is not contagious if it is due to smoking, air pollution, and other inhaled irritants. Symptoms of bronchitis include cough, sore throat, wheezing, fever, chills, etc. Treatment for bronchitis depends on the cause. -
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissues that causes swelling, redness, tenderness and warmth. Treatment will involve antibiotics. Severe infection may require IV or intramuscular antibiotic injections. -
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial sexual transmitted disease (STD) spread when people have sexual relations. Often, there are no symptoms. Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is transmitted either from person to person through sexual contact (oral, anal, or vaginal); or from mother to child during birth. Symptoms of chlamydia may vary in men and women. Treatment is generally through antibiotics. -
Dental Abscess
Bacteria from a tooth cavity can cause a dental abscess, or infection of the mouth, jaw, or face. Symptoms include pain, swelling, facial redness, gum inflammation, pus drainage, and occasional difficulty fully opening the mouth. Unless the abscess ruptures on its own, the abscess will need to be cut open and drained by a health-care professional. Dental abscesses can be deadly if left untreated. -
Diarrhea: Is It Food Poisoning or Infection?
Food poisoning is a general term that refers to gastrointestinal illnesses (usually diarrhea and/or vomiting) caused by food that is contaminated with bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxic substances. -
Epiglottitis
Epiglottitis a medical emergency and death may result if not treated promptly. Causes of epiglottitis include infectious, traumatic, and chemical agents. Symptoms of epiglottitis include: trouble breathing, drooling, taking rapid forward breaths, leaning forward to breathe, trouble speaking, and a high pitched whistling sound when taking a breath. If a person has epiglottits he or she should seek medical care emergently. -
Fever (in Adults)
A fever is a body temperature of 100.4 F or greater. A fever may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, blood clot, tumor, drug, or the environment. Treatment of fever in adults usually involves ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin. -
Fever in Children
Fever is defined as a rectal temperature over 100.4 F or 38 C. Fever isn't life-threatening unless it is persistently high - greater than a 107 F rectal temperature. Fever is usually caused by an infection. Treatment focuses on controlling the temperature, preventing dehydration, and monitoring for serious illness. -
Finger Infection
Finger infections can be caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses. Types of finger infections include paronychia, felon, herpetic whitlow, cellulitis, infectious flexor tenosynovitis, and deep space infection. Symptoms and treatment of a finger infection depend on the type. -
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which may be transmitted through contact with genital fluids. Symptoms of gonorrhea may be different in men, and women. Treatment includes prescription antibiotics like ceftriaxone, Cipro, azithromycin and others, which cure the infection. -
Immunizations and Antibiotics for Overseas Travel
Most immunizations are not required under International Health Requirements but are recommended. Anyone lacking certain region- or country-specific immunizations may be denied entry into or exit from a country. -
Life-Threatening Skin Rashes
Rashes are very common conditions and can have many causes. Most rashes are not dangerous but rather are merely nuisance illnesses. Life-threatening skin rashes are rare. Five potentially life-threatening disorders that have skin rash as the primary symptom are pemphigus vulgaris (PV), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). -
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease, sometimes referred to as Lyme infection, is a bacterial illness, transmitted to humans by the bite of deer ticks (Ixodes ticks) carrying a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms and signs include a red bull's-eye rash and flu-like illness in the early stages of Lyme disease. Doctors will treat primary or early Lyme disease with oral antibiotics including doxycycline, penicillins, or erythromycin. -
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an infection that shows resistance to many antibiotics. Symptoms and signs include pus production and itching in the affected area. The majority of serious MRSA infections are treated with a combination of two or more intravenous antibiotics. -
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of a woman's reproductive organs (cervicitis, salpingitis, endometritis, and peritonitis) is an STD caused by either the Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. Symptoms of PID include abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, heavy vaginal discharge, painful urination, or painful intercourse. Treatment is generally with antibiotics or surgery. -
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always caused by infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath. The pandemic COVID-19 coronavirus causes viral pneumonia in a percentage of people who contract the virus. -
Prostate Infections
Prostate infections can be either acute prostatitis and chronic prostatitis. Chronic prostate infections are caused by E. coli and other bacteria. Symptoms of a prostate infection include pain with urination or ejaculation, increased urinary frequency, urgency to pass urine, and pain in the genital area. Treatment for prostate infections or prostatitis may include antibiotics. -
Sepsis (Blood Infection)
Sepsis is a blood infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Immunocompromised individuals, very young babies, and the elderly are most at risk for developing sepsis. Symptoms and signs include chills, shaking, fever, rapid heartbeat, confusion, rash, and joint pain. Treatment depends upon the severity of the infection and may involve the patient being placed on oxygen and given IV antibiotics and saline. -
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States. STDs can be spread through any type of sexual activity involving the sex organs, the anus or mouth, or through contact with blood during sexual activity. Examples of STDs include, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B, trichomoniasis, pubic lice (crabs), and scabies.Treatment is generally with antibiotics; however, some STDs that go untreated can lead to death. -
Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)
Chronic and acute sinus infections and sinusitis is a condition in which the sinuses become inflamed and/or infected. Sinus infection symptoms and signs include bad breath, runny or stuffy nose, or nasal congestion, facial pain and swelling, tooth pain, ringing in the ears, sinus headache, fever, sore throat, and cough. -
Skin Abscess
An abscess is has several causes and can appear on many parts of the body, such as the dental, vaginal, and rectal areas. In general, home remedies or cures are not recommended as a treatment method for abscesses (or boils) because they can cause further injury. -
Skin Rashes in Children
Skin rashes in children may be categorized as bacterial, viral, life-threatening, fungal, and parasitic rashes. Oftentimes, the associated symptoms help establish the diagnosis. Treatment depends upon the type of rash and the severity of the signs and symptoms. -
Sore Throat
Sore throats are generally named for the anatomical site affected, such as: the pharynx, tonsils, adenoids, larynx, and epiglottis. Sore throat treatment depends on the cause, infection, viral, or fungal. -
Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Infection)
Staphylococcus is a type of bacteria that causes infection (often called a "staph infection"). Staphylococcus can cause infections in almost any organ system in the body. Symptoms of visible staph infections are a redness, swelling, tenderness, pus or crusty covering at the site of infection. Bacterial culture is used to test for staph infection. Treatment may involve surgery and/or antibiotics. -
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a disease caused by infection with streptococcal bacteria. Strep throat is contagious. Strep throat symptoms include fever, pain, redness, and swelling of the throat and tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, white or yellow patches on the back of the throat. Treatment for strep throat includes home remedies to sooth symptoms such as throat lozenges, OTC medications, herbal teas to sooth the throat, and hydration. Medical treatment for strep throat includes antibiotics to prevent complications. -
Swimmer's Ear (Symptoms, Treatment, Natural Remedies, Prevention)
Swimmer's ear (also called otitis externa) is caused by a break in the skin lining the ear canal and outer ear, allowing bacteria or fungi infect the ear. Excessive moisture in the ear, ear plugs, headphones, hearing aids, and chemical hair dyes, bleaches, or shampoos may also cause swimmer's ear. The most common symptoms of swimmer's ear is pain. Treatment depends on the extensiveness of the infection. -
Syphilis
Syphilis is a contagious bacterial infection transmitted most often through sexual intercourse. Flulike symptoms, body rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Late-phase syphilis attacks the heart, brain, skin, and bones. Late-stage syphilis is rare since the discovery of the antibiotic penicillin, which is used to treat this sexually transmitted disease (STD). -
Testicle Infection (Epididymitis)
Epididymitis is inflammation or infection of the epididymis that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Two main groups of organisms are responsible for most cases of epididymitis; STD organisms and coliforms. Symptoms of epididymitis include abdominal pain, scrotal pain, scrotal swelling, painful urination, blood in the urine, urethral discharge, fever, chills, and nausea. Treatment is with antibiotics. -
Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by contamination of wounds from the bacteria Clostridium tetani, or the spores they produce that live in the soil, and animal feces. Tetanus symptoms and signs include muscle cramps, lockjaw, weakness, and difficulty swallowing. A tetanus shot/vaccine is used to prevent tetanus. Tetanus treatment includes antibiotics, wound cleansing, pain medicine, sedatives to control muscle spasms, and IV fluids. -
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the glands of the throat, which results in a sore throat. Tonsillitis is either viral or bacterial. Tonsillitis is contagious. Symptoms of tonsillitis include sore throat, fever, pain when swallowing, headache, nausea, vomiting, cough, runny nose, hoarseness, ear pain, and redness of the eyes. Tonsillitis can be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes it is necessary to remove the tonsils (tonsillectomy). -
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare, life-threatening illness that is caused by toxins (poisons) that circulate in the bloodstream. Symptoms and signs include fever, headache, sore throat, cough, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Treatment involves finding and removing the source of infection, IV antibiotics, IV fluids, correcting electrolytes, and monitoring kidney and liver functions. -
Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
An upper respiratory tract infection is generally caused by a virus and treatment is directed at managing the symptoms of the infection. Viral infections are not responsive to antibiotics. The most common upper respiratory tract infection is the common cold. Upper respiratory infections are contagious thus prevention measures such as frequent hand washing and avoiding other that are ill are the most effective. -
Urethritis in Men
Urethritis, inflammation of the urethra, may cause symptoms and signs that include discharge, burning, pain, urinary urgency, itching, and blood in the urine. Treatment involves antibiotics, sitz baths, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. -
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by E. coli. Symptoms and signs of a UTI include urinary urgency, frequent urination, burning urination, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine. Treatment typically involves a course of antibiotics. -
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms
Urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms may include pain, burning with urination, frequent urination, difficulty urinating, urinary urgency, and sometimes blood in the urine. UTI symptoms in men, women, and children may differ slightly. -
Vaginal Infections
Vaginal infections, or vaginitis, describe the most common medical concerns women have in the area of their reproductive organs. Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that creates discharge, odor, and other symptoms. -
Vaginal Yeast Infections
Vaginal yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis, genital candidiasis, or vulvovaginal candidiasis) is a fungal or yeast infection. Symptoms include vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, painful or burning urination, and painful intercourse. There are a variety of causes of a vaginal yeast infection. Treatment is generally OTC vaginal yeast infection medication. -
When Should IV Antibiotics Be Switched to Oral?
Antibiotics are medications used to help fight infections caused by bacteria. There are a number of considerations when deciding to switch from intravenous (IV) antibiotics to oral antibiotics, but doctors often take this step as infections improve. -
When Should Prophylactic Antibiotics Be Given in Head and Neck Surgery?
Prophylactic antibiotics are antibiotics given before surgery to prevent infections. Surgical procedures of the head and neck, particularly ones involving mouth or throat incisions, tend to introduce a lot of infections compared with other types of surgery. Administering antibiotics prior to these procedures can decrease postoperative illness and death, shorten hospitalization, and reduce overall costs caused by infections. -
Yeast Infection and Bacterial Vaginosis
Yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis are conditions most women experience at some time in their lives. Painful itching and sometimes an unpleasant odor and discharge are symptoms of this bacterial or fungal infection. Antibiotics are used for treatment.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.