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In urinary tract infections antibiotics awarded even without a prescription?
Repeated uncomplicated urinary tract infections could, in the opinion of a British physician, be treated by the affected women on their own with antibiotics. This would avoid the delays caused by prescription and the required visit to the doctor, said Kyle Knox of the University of Oxford in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).. Advertising
Although the excessive use of antibiotics is now increasingly critically evaluated in view of the increased formation of resistant germs and it therefore seems only right to link the intake in principle to a medical prescription. But Kyle Knox comes to a different assessment of bladder inflammation in women. The physician was in favor of eliminating the prescription of the drug nitrofurantoin, which is used as an antibiotic for the treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
Pain in a bladder infection. Picture: absolutimages. fotolia Every third woman experiences a urinary tract infection early on
Cystitis, according to the British medical profession, is quite common among sexually active women and menopausal women. Due to its anatomy, the female sex is significantly more affected than men. Almost a third of women had experienced at least one urinary tract infection at the age of 26 years. Most of the uncomplicated urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria and with an antibiotic treatment can usually be achieved without sequelae, reports Kyle Knox. The development of pyelonephritis (renal pelvic inflammation) is very rare. Even without medical treatment, the infections were often over again after a relatively short time. However, sufferers sometimes suffer from significant pain during the illness. By administering the active ingredient nitrofurantoin, the duration of the infection and the extent of the symptoms should be reduced. However, a medical prescription is required both in the UK and in Germany.
Three million medical appointments could be dropped
According to the British physician, around three million medical appointments per year are due in the UK for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. This was around one percent of the total number of medical consultations. Here, significant capacity would be released if the prescription requirement disappeared. According to the British medical expert, three indica- tors that can also be detected without a laboratory examination are relatively reliable indications of a urinary tract infection: nocturia (increased urination), dysuria (difficulty in clearing the bladder) and cloudy urine. In most cases, the doctor will prescribe treatment with antibiotics from her doctor, mostly without an additional determination of the pathogens in the laboratory. It is also apparent from the available studies that the intake over the three-day period had a comparable effect as the antibiotic treatment over a period of five to ten days.
Taking antibiotics without a prescription
The clinical indicators of nocturia, dysuria and cloudy urine, women can estimate according to the British medical doctor without medical advice at home. Since antibiotics are usually administered without any further determination of the pathogen anyway, non-pregnant women could also tackle a three-day intake of nitrofurantoin on their own when two of the three indicators are given, Knox continues. The drug has been known since the 1950s and is generally well tolerated for short periods of use. Nausea and flatulence are the most common side effects here. In addition, two antibiotics in the UK are already available without prescriptions in pharmacies: oral azithromycin against uncomplicated chlamydia infections and topical chloramphenicol against bacterial conjunctivitis.
Home remedies for urinary tract infections
Before the uncomplicated urinary tract infections on antibiotics is used, the use of home remedies for cystitis is quite recommendable. Here naturopathy, in addition to rising baths on the effect of various plants such as juniper, bearberry leaves, birch leaves, Bucco leaves or marshmallow root. Goldenrod leaves should also help against the accompanying abdominal cramps. Horseradish and nasturtium can be used to produce a type of herbal antibiotic that can also be used to treat bacterial bladder infections. Not least, cranberry juice is credited with a positive effect. This should reduce the colonization and spread of bacteria, have an anti-inflammatory effect on the mucous membranes and allow the excretion of bacteria. Homeopathy also provides remedies for bladder infections such as Apis, Cantharis, Nux Vomica and Sarsaparilla. However, should no relief be achieved in a timely manner, a visit to the doctor is required. (Fp)
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