ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT: SIDE EFFECTS
As with all medications, antibiotics have potential side effects. It is very important for you to tell your physician about any problems you had with antibiotics in the past. Some people are allergic to certain types, and allergies to them can cause skin rashes and swelling of the face, among other symptoms. It is important to keep a record of these allergies. The physician can then choose a different antibiotic or take precautions to prevent problems if the antibiotic to which you are allergic must be used.
A Medic-Alert® bracelet should be worn if your allergy is life threatening. Some people, for example, are allergic to penicillin and develop severe breathing problems or go into shock. If by chance you are in an accident or lose consciousness, the bracelet will warn any physician of this allergy. It is also useful for all other allergies, serious illnesses or necessary drug treatments.
Some simple bracelets can be bought in most drugstores. There is also an international organization that issues special bracelets and keeps a record of your particular medical problem. Each of these Medic-Alert® bracelets is numbered and coded. In an emergency, a physician can tell the organization to find out about the medical problems that are listed on the bracelet. This can sometimes save your life.
Frequently, allergies to antibiotics are confused with other types of less dangerous side effects, such as nausea, drowsiness, or diarrhea. However, it is very important to understand the difference between an allergy and a side effect. Some people claim that they are allergic to every type of antibiotic, when in fact they have had only minor side effects. It can be very difficult for a physician to choose a proper antibiotic if you tell him that you are allergic to all antibiotics because you once became nauseated when you took one. Physicians are usually aware of the side effects, and they take precautions to prevent them. Usually, the need for therapy outweighs the relative risk of adverse side effects.
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