Flu (influenza) is a very common viral illness. In medical journals, you can find information that antibiotics are not used to combat influenza viruses.
Antibiotics for flu infection do not really exist. After all, antibacterial and bactericidal medications are not effective in the treatment of diseases caused by viral infection.
It should be noted that many patients diagnosed with the flu develop bacterial infections. Therefore, antibiotics are prescribed in addition to antiviral drugs for influenza treatment.
Bacterial infection is one of the most frequent complications of severe influenza. Therefore, many people taking antibiotics during the treatment of severe viral infection are convinced that they use antibiotics for flu treatment.
Every year, millions of people around the world take antibiotics during influenza treatment. Therefore, you can often find statements about the use of antibiotics for flu and cold, cough or sore throat on the forums.
Given the fact that antibiotics are not used for flu treatment, bactericidal (antibacterial) drugs for severe influenza are called drugs to treat flu complications.
The most serious and dangerous complication of influenza is pneumonia. Common antibiotics for the treatment of this flu complication are drugs for the treatment of diseases caused by pneumococcal, streptococcal or staphylococcal infection.
It should be noted that many symptoms of bacterial infection are similar to flu symptoms. Therefore, the use of antibiotics to fight influenza complications helps to reduce some symptoms of a viral infection.
Antibiotics for flu complications can be sold at pharmacies under various names, such as Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Cefazolin, Cefuroxime, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Imipenem, Ertapenem, Erythromycin, Roxithromycin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Doxycycline, Clindamycin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Vancomycin, Linezolid.
Each of antibiotics mentioned above for the treatment of bacterial influenza complications can be sold under the original trade names. For example, common antibiotic – Ciprofloxacin for flu complications is registered in the UK under the brand names Cetraxal, Ciloxan, Ciprobay.
Antibiotics for flu symptoms and complications can be prescribed both to adults and to children. During pregnancy, antibiotics for flu should be taken with caution.