When no treatment is the best treatment
If your doctor tries to give you an antibiotic for bronchitis, take a pass. According to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, antibiotics have absolutely no effect on the vast majority of bronchitis cases.
That's because most types of bronchitis are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only target bacteria. But it's not just that you're pouring your money down the drain. Taking antibiotics at any time destroys healthy gut bacteria which can cause nausea and diarrhea in the short term, and mess up your immune system in the long term. They also contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, which puts you at risk of suffering from an illness caused by bacteria resistant to the very antibiotic you were treated with unnecessarily in the first place.
So it's never a good idea to take an antibiotic if you really don't need one. Many doctors find it easier and less time consuming to write a prescription than explain all of this to a patient who feels that an antibiotic is the answer. If you're otherwise healthy and have a mild to moderate illness, it's fine to check in with your doctor -- but don't assume an antibiotic will be the solution to your problem. Your illness will probably resolve on its own with adequate rest, fluids and time.
Ironically, one of the indications for the new antibiotic Ketek is chronic bronchitis. Just last week I told you the story of Ketek, which has been linked to many dangerous side effects in its short life and is currently under review by the FDA. Now we have one more reason to avoid Ketek - and hopefully, have it removed from pharmacy shelves.
