Antibiotics are a great tool to combat a variety of bacterial infections. They are incredibly effective and are considered one of the greatest medical achievements of our time!

When you are sick, it is important to know what you are suffering from so you can find out whether a course of antibiotics is right for you. If you are wondering what your recent illness or symptoms indicates, our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team can help.

What Illnesses Can Antibiotics Treat?

Antibiotics were developed to tackle bacterial infections. It is important to understand if you have a bacterial or a viral infection in order to know if seeking a prescription is the best course of action.

This can be a tricky process, as some illnesses, like meningitis or pneumonia, can be caused by both bacteria and viruses. That is why it is so important to be seen by a medical provider! We can assess your current symptoms and run the proper tests to give you an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Bacterial Infections That Are Common

• UTI (urinary tract infection)
• Strep throat
• Ear or sinus infections
• Bacterial pneumonias

Why Do I Need to Be Seen to Get Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are great tools when they are used appropriately and responsibly. You should never take antibiotics that were not prescribed to you or that were left over from a previous prescription. Only a medical professional should determine whether antibiotics will be beneficial for you.

If you take a prescription that is not yours or only take a few doses of an old prescription until you start to feel better, you are contributing to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is when certain bacteria survive a course of antibiotics and then become resistant to that specific treatment. It is important to know what signs to look for when it comes to infection, and then take the entire prescription if it has been determined that antibiotics will be beneficial for you.

Signs of an Infection

• Pain in the area of concern
• Swelling
• Fever
• Muscle aches

If you need help determining what kind of infection you have, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Hixson to see if antibiotics are the treatment for you!