Dengue: Warning Signs, Platelet Myths and When Admission Is Needed
Most dengue is managed at home with fluids and paracetamol. The danger period is not when fever is highest — it is the day the fever settles.
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India has among the highest rates of antibiotic resistance in the world. Every unnecessary course brings closer the day when a routine infection becomes untreatable.
How resistance develops
Bacteria multiply rapidly and mutate constantly. When an antibiotic is used, susceptible bacteria die and any that happen to carry a resistance mutation survive and multiply. Over time, and with enough exposure, the resistant strains dominate — not only in the person who took the drug but in the community, since bacteria are shared through water, food and contact.
In Indian hospitals we now routinely encounter infections resistant to several first-line antibiotics, requiring intravenous drugs that are expensive, more toxic and sometimes unavailable. Some infections have reached the point where very few options remain.
Where the pressure comes from
- Antibiotics bought over the counter without a prescription
- Antibiotics taken for viral fever, cough and cold
- Courses stopped early once the patient feels better
- Leftover tablets kept at home and used for the next illness
- The same antibiotic used repeatedly for recurrent problems
- Widespread antibiotic use in poultry and livestock
Using antibiotics correctly when they are prescribed
- Take the full course exactly as prescribed, even after symptoms disappear
- Take doses at even intervals, not clustered together
- Never share antibiotics or use someone else's prescription
- Never keep leftovers for future use
- Tell your doctor about allergies and previous reactions
- Ask whether a culture is worth sending before starting, particularly for recurrent urinary infections
Worth knowing
A culture and sensitivity test identifies exactly which antibiotic will work. For recurrent or complicated infections it saves both money and effectiveness compared with guessing.
What antibiotics do not treat
Common cold, influenza, most sore throats, most coughs, viral fever, viral diarrhoea and dengue are all viral. No antibiotic shortens them or prevents their complications. The blocked nose, the yellow-green nasal discharge and the persistent cough after a viral infection are all part of the normal course and are not indications for antibiotics.
If a doctor gives you a clear explanation of why an antibiotic is not needed, that consultation has done more for your health than a prescription would have.
What you can do
- Do not ask for or insist on antibiotics
- Do not buy them without a prescription
- Get vaccinated — influenza, pneumococcal and typhoid vaccines reduce infections and therefore antibiotic use
- Wash hands properly, especially before meals and after using the toilet
- Drink safe water and eat freshly cooked food
Key takeaways
- Antibiotics have no effect on viral illnesses, which cause most fevers, colds and coughs.
- Stopping a course early and reusing leftovers both drive resistance.
- Culture and sensitivity testing identifies the right drug for recurrent infections.
- Vaccination and hand hygiene reduce infections and therefore antibiotic use.
A note on medical advice
This article is general health education written and reviewed by the Department of General Medicine at SIMS. It is not a substitute for an examination, a diagnosis or the advice of your own treating doctor, and it cannot account for your history, medicines or reports. If a symptom is sudden or severe — chest pain, stroke symptoms, breathing difficulty, serious injury, seizures or heavy bleeding — call 9281862028 or come straight to the emergency department instead of reading further.
AntibioticsResistanceInfectionPublic health
