Flu and cold time Many young adults expect antibiotics prescription from the doctor

Uncritical use: Many young adults often take antibiotics

Only recently has the positive trend been reported that doctors are prescribing less antibiotics to children. But young adults are obviously putting more emphasis on such drugs. According to experts, the uncritical use of antibiotics, especially during the flu and cold period becomes clear.

Responsible use of antibiotics

Although the number of antibiotic resistances continues to rise and is regularly called upon not to use such drugs in large quantities, medics in Germany often prescribe antibiotics according to a study only on suspicion. In addition, such funds are used against diseases for which they are completely ineffective. As a recent survey shows, many patients apparently expect doctors to prescribe antibiotics if their cold symptoms persist for longer. The uncritical use of such drugs is therefore widespread, especially in young adults.

According to a recent survey, nearly every second young adult received antibiotics from a doctor last year. In many cases also against diseases in which usually no antibiotic is needed. (Image: nenetus / fotolia.com)

In case of a cold, antibiotics are usually not necessary

Almost every second young adult received antibiotics from a doctor last year. Many of these regulations were questionable: One in five had a cold, which usually requires no antibiotic.

This is the result of a recent survey by DAK-Gesundheit, for which the Forsa Institute surveyed over 3,000 people in Germany.

Accordingly, the uncritical use of antibiotics becomes particularly clear during the flu and cold period: 72 percent of respondents expect a prescription if their cold symptoms do not improve themselves (2014: 76 percent).

Risk of resistance formation

Above all, the young adults rely on such agents, in the people of 60 years, it is only 67 percent.

"This expectation is problematic, especially if it has an impact on the prescribing behavior of physicians," said Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK Health.

"Antibiotics are life-saving medicines that we urgently need. If they are taken uncritically, the risk of resistance formation is exacerbated. That's why we need a change of consciousness in Germany. "

Common knowledge gaps

According to the health insurance, a lot of Germans are not sufficiently informed about the areas of application of the active ingredients: 31 percent of respondents think that antibiotics would be effective in viral infections (2014: 38 percent), 19 percent hope for help with fungal infections (2014: 23 percent).

The drugs are only used for the treatment of bacterial infections - for example, in colds or bronchitis they are unnecessary in most cases.

Undo is the tendency to want to get fit again with antibiotics for the job: in 2014, one in four (25 percent) wanted a prescription to bounce back quickly, in 2017 only one in six (16 percent).

People of younger age are more affected

Age plays a role in the management of antibiotics: the group of those who expect an antibiotic prescription for stubborn ailments is particularly large in young people (78 percent).

The over 60s are rather reserved.

Only about one in three (35 percent) of them were prescribed antibiotics last year, just under one in two (48 percent) among the younger ones. (Ad)