Common Infectious Diseases Flashcards
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are drugs that inhibit or kill bacteria.
What are antibiotics used for?
to cure bacterial infections
What kind of medication is a antibiotic?
It is a prescription medication, and you need a doctor to order it for you
The doctors and pharmacist will tell you to complete the entire prescription why is this, why is it critical that you follow the directions for the antibiotics?
People may feel better quickly and think they can stop taking the medicine; however, that can lead to further problems and make the infection more difficult to treat later.
What happens when you stop taking an antibiotic before the bacteria has been killed?
When bacteria get introduced to an antibiotic but the individual stops using it before the bacteria has been killed, that antibiotic is no longer effective on that bacteria. Therefore, many bacterial strains are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. This is a concern because every time an individual needs a stronger antibiotic to kill bacteria, and there are fewer antibiotics to choose from.
Can you think of some common bacterial infections?
Some common bacterial diseases include strep throat, Lyme disease, meningitis, and tuberculosis.
common bacterial infections are treated by what?
If diagnosed and treated early, they can be cured with antibiotics.
Examples of common viral diseases?
Some common viral diseases include the common cold, influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis. Viral diseases cannot be cured with antibiotics.
What are given to people who are suffering from a viral disease?
An individual may be given other drugs to help the symptoms of the illness, but it is not a cure.
give an example of what you could be given if you get a cold?
For example, if you have a cold, your doctor might give you a medication that will help with the runny nose or cough. The medication is not curing the runny nose or cough, but for the duration of the medication, you might experience fewer symptoms.
Are there cures for viral diseases?
There are no cures for viral diseases; however, certain medications can relieve some of the symptoms.
Symtoms of a cold:
Soon after exposure to a cold virus, people develop sneezing, sore throats, runny noses, coughing, chest congestion, fever, headaches, and muscle aches. Most colds last three to seven days.
How do colds spread?
Colds spread when a person touches a contaminated object or inhales droplets from a sneeze or a cough. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold.
The flu, or influenza, is a common viral infection of the…
upper respiratory system.
Symmtoms of the flu:
Typical symptoms are high fever, sore throat, headache, and a cough. Influenza viruses can cause more serious illness than cold viruses.
