How can I contribute to the solution?

Being Part of the Solution

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You and your family can be part of the solution by...

Knowing what antibiotics are used for:

Not all illnesses can be treated with antibiotics, because not all illness is caused by bacteria. Some illness is the result of a viral infection. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics, and it is for this reason that they should not be prescribed in these cases. See the "Antibiotic Resistance" link to the left for more information on how bacteria become resistant.

Being your own advocate:

See the link titled "Talking with Your Health Care Provider" for tips on how to have a conversation with your health care provider about what sorts of treatments are appropriate for you. It is always a good idea to ask questions and voice your concerns about your medical treatment.

Following the instructions for antibiotic use:

Take ALL of the medication as instructed, even if you feel better. If you are prescribed an antibiotic take all of the pills until they are gone. If you have a reaction to the medication, return to your health care provider, so that they can find a medication that you can use. There are many types of antibiotics, and just because you are allergic to one doesn't mean that you will be allergic to all of them.

Developing healthy habits:

At some time or other all of us will become ill, because being sick is a fact of life. Even so, there are things that you and your family can do to help minimize how often you need to use antibiotics. One way is by washing your hands frequently and helping your children to establish good hand washing habits so that they are doing it properly when you aren't there to watch them.

For other perspectives on how you can contribute to the solution, click on the "More Information" link to the left.