| |
When to Call Your Doctor... |
| |
Call your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
Fever of 102 or greater
Thick, greenish mucus
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Sudden onset of symptoms
|
|
|
Treatment Plan
Strep throat
Anyone with a diagnosis of Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis (GASP, or strep throat) is given antibiotics (usually penicillin). A doctor's office may do either a rapid strep test or a throat culture to confirm that the infection is due to GASP. The patient takes antibiotics for 10 days. School systems generally recommend that a child stay home from school for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotics. It is important to take the antibiotics the full 10 days (or however long the doctor recommends).
Sinusitis
Viruses cause most cases of acute sinus infection, which are accompanied by mucous secretions from the nose. Viral sinusitis can result in blocked sinuses and predispose you to bacterial sinusitis typically after seven to 10 days. Symptom relief with decongestants and antihistamines unblocks clogged sinuses and may reduce the risk of a secondary bacterial sinusitis. Most acute sinusitis goes away without using antibiotics.
However, after 10 days of persistent or worsening symptoms, your doctor may start you on antibiotics. Acute bacterial sinus infection can become a very serious illness. In rare cases, untreated infection can invade facial bones around the eyes (osteomyelitis) or spread to the meninges, which are the membranes that cover the brain, and cause meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord). If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, do not stop taking them when symptoms improve. Complete the entire course of antibiotic treatment in order to kill all of the bacteria causing sinusitis.
Pneumonia
Newborns, the elderly and people with chronic respiratory diseases are at greatest risk for bacterial pneumonia. Cases in which pneumonia is suspected include some respiratory symptoms.
The elderly can contract pneumonia in the community or while hospitalized, and they require aggressive medical support and treatment with antibiotics. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prone to certain types of pneumonia. A worsening of their pre-existing cough and other respiratory problems may herald the onset of pneumonia and requires treatment with antibiotics.
More on Bacterial Infections Defeating the Purpose of Antibiotics
Winding Up Breathless
What Is the Difference Between Pneumonia and Bronchitis?
In the Encyclopedia: Abscess incision & drainage
Nocardiosis
X-linked agammaglobulinemia
Aminoglycosides
Anaerobic infections
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
|
|
|
