Antibiotic Overuse - Irish Times Article

Below is the text of an article in the Irish Times - now we all know that antibiotics are overused but what is the alternative? Can coughs, colds and flu be treated at all? Here's the good news: of course they can, with appropriately chosen homeopathic remedies. A lot of people may already know about the amazing efficacy of remedies in these types of illnesses (among many others). For example, you know that fluey feeling when your muscles ache all over, you feel dull, drowsy, your eyes and your whole body feel heavy and a you're a little dizzy or shaky and all you want to do is stay in bed, then a dose or two of Gelsemium (6c or 30c, always follow the manufacturer's directions) will help and you should be feeling fine again within a couple of days or less. As with any homeopathic remedy, you should always match the symptoms to the remedy picture - a good book to use for home prescribing is mentioned in previous blog.
Other 'flu' type illnesses, coughs etc will respond to different remedies. Always see a professional for advice if symptoms are not clearing within a short period of time.

Dangers of antibiotic overuse highlighted

Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent

Tue, Nov 18, 2008

Ireland is one of only three European states where levels of antibiotic use among patients in the community is continuing to rise year on year.

As a result there is a high level of resistance to antibiotics in the Republic compared to in most European countries.

That was the key message at a seminar in Dublin this morning where a campaign to increase awareness among GPs and the public about appropriate prescribing and appropriate use of antibiotics kicked off.

Dr Robert Cunney, consultant microbiologist with the national Health Protection Surveillance Centre, warned that if people take antibiotics when they aren't needed, it may mean they won't work when they really need them for a serious infection.

"We are using more and more antibiotics each year in Ireland and are seeing more infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria as a result. We must take steps to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.

Otherwise we risk squandering one of the most important medical advances of the past 100 years," he said.

He said up to 20 per cent of pneumococcal infections here are now resistant to penicillin, and there is also a worrying increase in the level of resistance amongst
E.Coli infections here to the quinolone group of antibiotics, which are strong antibiotics used to treat life-threatening infections.

He pointed out that in many other European countries antibiotic use had stabilised or was reducing. France and Belgium, he said, had seen a marked decrease in antibiotic consumption in recent years as a result of public information and education campaigns for family doctors.

Plans have now been put in place here to look at prescribing practices among GPs in their own areas, to develop guidelines for them on when antibiotics should be prescribed.

The Health Service Executive is now starting a three-week advertising campaign in an attempt to raise awareness among the public that antibiotics are not the solution for common colds, coughs or flu. This is because antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections, not viral ones.

© 2008 irishtimes.com