Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

[Admin]

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) is very common and more than 80% are caused by viruses in which antibiotics are not indicated. The last time I took antibiotics was in year 1997 (about 10 years ago) and I notice I have URTI less frequesntly than those who take antibiotics whenever they are "sick".
This is just my personal eperience to share with you.

[sckhsmc2006]

That's the typical problem, not just here, but throughout the world with the over-enthusiasm in prescription of antibiotics over minor illnesses.

Causes of such prescription that we've all acknowledged:-

(a) Patient's request despite explanation
(b) Playing it safe especially by new doctors
(c) As a routine practice
(d) Lack of awareness by the new doctors

Oh well, feel free to contribute more if you have further ideas...

[Admin]

I do not know the situation in other country. In my country Malaysia, it seems to be a culture that antibiotic is a must in the prescription list wheneve someone is "sick", even the illness is non-infective in nature. Not to mention the underlying pathogens causing the illness  if it is infective in origin. In my opinion, doctors are not to be blamed always. In private practice especially, it is sometimes not up to the doctor to decide whether or not antibiotics are indicated. Patient will request antibiotics even in viral URTI or worse, when having body ache or headache so that they will "recover" faster. Well, if it really works,  I think it is due to the placebo effect. Therefore, to secure their business, doctors have to prescribe antibiotics; if not, they might lose their patients or customers. This in turn leads to the problems of antibiotic resistance. Hence, to overcome the problem, I think patient education is of utmost importance.

[sckhsmc2006]

I do not know the situation in other country. In my country Malaysia, it seems to be a culture that antibiotic is a must in the prescription list wheneve someone is "sick", even the illness is non-infective in nature. Not to mention the underlying pathogens causing the illness  if it is infective in origin. In my opinion, doctors are not to be blamed always. In private practice especially, it is sometimes not up to the doctor to decide whether or not antibiotics are indicated. Patient will request antibiotics even in viral URTI or worse, when having body ache or headache so that they will "recover" faster. Well, if it really works,  I think it is due to the placebo effect. Therefore, to secure their business, doctors have to prescribe antibiotics; if not, they might lose their patients or customers. This in turn leads to the problems of antibiotic resistance. Hence, to overcome the problem, I think patient education is of utmost importance.

The colored quotation which was once a far-fetched deal is now fast becoming the main aim involved in the rapid revolution in the medicinal world. Far from once becoming true, a simple manner of 'telling and re-telling' would adorn more than just explanation, it creates not just awareness but yet improves the ideal health in the current notorious yet constantly endangering world that we are living in. Yet, as you have mentioned indirectly acclaimed it to be, medicine is now fast becoming so worldly 'commercialized' that the once reputable profession is being questioned by many authorities. A simple mindset yearns from a proper conscience in prescribing medicine, I then urge the many readers to dig out the book by Dr Ray Strand (on Death by Prescription). =P

[drbalo]

Well, as a general practitioner, I must admit that I am over-prescribing antibiotics for my patients despite knowing that most of the URTI are viral in origin. But as mentioned by the admin, most of the time, patients will request antibiotics from me. And to safeguard my "business" I will prescribe short corse of antibiotics e.g. erythromycin 500mg 6-hourly for 3 days. Well, may be a valid reason for me to do this is to prevent secondary bacterial infection.

What do you think? I would like to hear from public as well.

[mdmjane]

That's the typical problem, not just here, but throughout the world with the over-enthusiasm in prescription of antibiotics over minor illnesses.

Causes of such prescription that we've all acknowledged:-

(a) Patient's request despite explanation
(b) Playing it safe especially by new doctors
(c) As a routine practice
(d) Lack of awareness by the new doctors

Oh well, feel free to contribute more if you have further ideas...

I always request my doctor to prescribe me antibiotics whenever I have common flu. My experience tells me with antibiotics, my illness lasts shorter. How can you explain on this?

[smt_2x]

I agree with Dr Balo. Sometimes it is really not up to us to decide. I will prescribe antibiotics if patients insist to take it.

[amanda]

i think doctor knows best when it comes to medicine. so if the patient is sick and doesn't require antibiotics, then why give them?

[tyler_clarke]

That,s the very serious symptoms I also advice the doctor to give the treatment immediately to made it possible to decreased the infection about the respiratory system.

[nampoochea]

We do become immune to antibiotics if we take them frequently. So always ask your doctor if your ailment is something that can be cured without the antibiotics.