One of the drugs to treat sore throat is antibiotics. Antibiotics for strep throat should only be used if the inflammation is definitely caused by bacteria. In addition, the use of antibiotics to treat sore throat must also be according to the doctor's prescription and advice.
Antibiotics are drugs to treat bacterial infections in the body. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria that cause inflammation, including strep throat. If your sore throat is caused by a viral infection or exposure to pollution such as cigarette smoke, antibiotics won't have any effect.
When Should You Take Antibiotics?
Sore throat is generally characterized by symptoms of hoarseness, mild cough, headache, unwell, and pain when swallowing. In addition, this condition can also cause other symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Sore throat usually lasts for 2-3 days, then gets better within 1 week. To treat a sore throat that lasts too long or is severe, your doctor may recommend antibiotics.
In addition, antibiotics for sore throats will also be given to people with special conditions, such as currently undergoing chemotherapy, have had surgery to remove the spleen, or have a history of certain diseases such as rheumatic fever or heart valve disorders.
To confirm that a sore throat is caused by bacteria, the doctor may perform a physical examination and examination using the swab method.swab) around the throat, if needed.
Not only to detect the bacteria that cause strep throat, swab or throat swab can also be done to diagnose Corona virus infection.
Choice of Antibiotics for Sore Throat
If the results of the examination show that your sore throat is indeed caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
Several choices of antibiotic drugs that can be prescribed by doctors to treat sore throat due to bacterial infections are: amoxicillin, azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, as well as class antibiotics cephaplosporin, for example cefadroxil and cefixime.
The use of antibiotics needs to be adjusted to the pattern of the spread of germs that cause sore throat. Therefore, the choice of antibiotic drugs for strep throat needs to follow the doctor's recommendations.
In addition to killing bacteria, antibiotics for strep throat also have other benefits such as:
- Relieves symptoms caused by sore throat
- Prevents the spread of bacteria to other parts of the body
- Prevent complications that may result from strep throat related to bacterial infections, such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, rheumatic fever, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
The duration of the use of antibiotics for sore throat varies depending on the patient's condition. Doctors will generally prescribe antibiotics to use for about 10 days. Even if you feel that you are getting better, you are required to continue taking antibiotics according to the doctor's prescription.
If the use of antibiotics for strep throat is stopped sooner than the doctor prescribes, it is feared that some of the bacteria that cause strep throat are still alive and can cause strep throat to recur.
Side Effects of Using Antibiotics for Sore Throat
Although they can treat strep throat due to bacterial infection, antibiotics can also cause some side effects, such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea.
However, the side effects of these antibiotics are usually only temporary and will disappear after the use of antibiotics is finished or stopped.
In some people, the use of certain types of antibiotics can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, red rashes on the skin, dizziness, shortness of breath, or palpitations. If you experience an allergic reaction after taking antibiotics, contact your doctor immediately for proper treatment.
Another danger that can occur if using antibiotics is not as directed is the emergence of bacterial immunity. This condition can be dangerous because if the bacteria are resistant to treatment, the antibiotics will become less effective later on. Therefore, you should avoid taking antibiotics over the counter.