Antibiotic Harmful for Viral Cold: Whenever people feel cold, instead of going to the doctor, they start buying antibiotics from medical stores themselves. But do you know that this small medicine of yours can become a big threat to your life in future? Professor Zia ur Rehman, Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has expressed serious concern on this subject. He believes that the use of antibiotics in viral infections is not only ineffective, but it also weakens the body’s defense mechanism. Professor Zia ur Rehman, HOD of the Department of Pharmacobiology of AMU, has given important information on the misuse of antibiotics and the serious dangers caused by it.
Antibiotic is to kill bacteria
Professor Zia Ur Rehman said that cold, flu, runny nose, sore throat, acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, ear or eye infection are common. But in such cases, taking antibiotics without doctor’s advice is not at all right. He told that antibiotics are made only to destroy bacteria, whereas most diseases like cold and flu are viral. The structure of viruses and bacteria is completely different. Antibiotics are designed to destroy the bacteria’s cell wall, cell membrane and its internal nutritional system, while they have no effect on viruses. Viral infections require antiviral drugs, not antibiotics.
bacteria resistant to antibiotics
According to Professor Rahman, most viral diseases are self-limiting, that is, they get cured on their own in 5 to 6 days. In such a situation, there is no need to take antibiotics. If the infection persists for a long time or the symptoms are severe, a doctor should be consulted. The biggest danger of consuming antibiotics by purchasing it from the market is antibiotic resistance. Due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics, bacteria become extinct. It forms a solid shield around its body due to which the medicine particles are unable to enter the bacteria. In this way, they become stronger against these drugs, making serious infections more difficult to treat in the future. This problem has now become a serious challenge not only at the national but also at the international level.
Use of antibiotics in poultry and farms
He told that for this reason work is being done on “One Health Initiative” all over the world. One Health means stopping the uncontrolled use of antibiotics in humans as well as in animals, poultry farms, dairy, aquaculture (fish farming) and the environment. Excessive use of antibiotics in fields, farm houses and animal husbandry is also a major reason for increasing resistance. Additionally, improper disposal or flushing of medicines releases them into the environment, further exacerbating the problem.
Good bacteria are eliminated
Professor Rahman warned that misuse of antibiotics also destroys the good bacteria present in the body, which are essential for our health. Due to this, the risk of super infection increases, such as fungal infection or other dangerous infections. If the bacteria spread into the blood (systemic or blood infection), this condition can prove fatal. He said that antibiotic resistance is a very serious problem and it cannot be taken lightly. To stop this, common people, doctors, animal husbandry, environmentalists and all concerned organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) need to take concrete steps together.
