Question re antibiotics

[lostinthecitylover]

I am a bit confused - I do understand the rationale behind not using antibiotics for virus and actually don't like taking unnecessary medication. In fact I had really bad flu at Xmas and did not go to GP at all!

However I have been unwell for ten days with a 'virus' - sore throat and loss of voice.
Went to GP last week to be told it's a virus and cold last two to three weeks.

Last year I had similar complaint to now, went to GP and she prescribed antibiotics immeidately. I have some left over and am tempted to take them.

I can't actually understand how ( when she can't see my larynx) it can be determined whether it is viral or bacterial but perhaps someone with more knowledge can enlighten me.

If you only have some "leftover" antibiotics, then you won't have enough for a full course, so will most likely not effectively get rid of the infection (even if it is bacterial) and also run a risk of increasing the resistance of the bacteria to that antibiotic.

Was it the same GP both times? Some are much quicker to hand out antibiotics than others. And if it swas the same one, presumably there was something different in your symptoms which made her treat it differently.

Basically, don't take leftover part courses, but go back to the GP (or a different one) if you don't think they have diagnosed it right.

I don't think you can really tell unless you
see spots of pus on the tonsils,
have a temperature that may swing high to low or just be high,[can happen in virus infection too but usually worse with bacterial]
be hot and cold or especially feeling very cold and shaking a lot[a rigor]~usually bacterial
and be feeling more poorly than you normally do with a virus

which point towards bacterial rather than viral

pointing to viral would be the presence of a cold and milder symptoms

I think what happens is if you go back or become more unwell and go back you will be likely to get antibiotics

you should be told to go back if you have a high swinging temp,symptoms get worse or you feel a lot more unwell

No it was difft gps - think I will try to ride it out.

As I haven't had fever or anything similar.

Ermm, how come you have 'left-over' antibiotics? You are supposed to take the whole course, even if you feel better before you finish them (which you usually do). Not finishing a course of antibiotics is instrumental in allowing antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop.

OK hadn't realised it was as critical as that.

I had them left over from last year - I do know that you are meant to finish the course but clearly didn't.

don't take left over anti-b's

I would take Vit C go to bed and stop the paracetamol

well have now got white spots on my throat and feeling no better so does that mean it has changed from viral to bacterial?

Will be back at GPS on Monday.