Lady Murasaki wrote:Cannydc wrote:Lady Murasaki wrote:Cannydc wrote:Lady M,
Because over-use of antibiotics makes them less effective against bacteria.
Bacteria can mutate to become immune to each antibiotic in turn, especially when the full course isn't taken because the patient feels better.
People ask for them for colds and flu - they have NO EFFECT, both are viral, not bacterial.
Isn't that what I was saying? Less use of antibiotics builds up our immunities because of those mutating bacteria.
Sorry, no it isn't what you were saying.
Less use of antibiotics doesn't build up our immunities.
Immunities are built up to VIRUSES, via contact with the disease itself in mild form or innoculations.
Mankind DOES NOT have immunity to BACTERIAL infections (Streptococcus etc). And humans cannot build such immunities, either by drug therapy or diet choice.
Those BACTERIA can mutate into so-called Super bugs. Part of that mutation is down to misuse of antibiotics. It renders certain antibiotics useless. Nothing to do with human immunity.
Ok. When you say misuse of antibiotics do you mean using them when unnecessary like a cough being just a cough not a chest infection? Children used to be prescribed antibiotics straight away when I was young, ( that delicious banana flavoured one.) You don't see that happen so often now.
Yes, exactly.
My daughter was always on the banana medicine, until grommets in both ears stopped the ear infections completely. Bacterial infections, of course.
Nowadays we should be letting kids get over coughs and colds in nature's own good time. And once they have had a cold virus, they won't get that one again. Pity there are over 200 varieties of the common cold.