World Health Day 2018: Say 'no' to antibiotic resistance

New Delhi : When it comes to getting relief from pain, fever or other illness, how many of you depend on taking antibiotics? Well, most of us do and experts say that a big threat is catching up. It is somewhere hidden in the form of Antibiotic resistance. This World Health Day lets discuss about Antibiotic resistance and how to deal with it.

According to the latest report by the WHO, antibiotic resistance has become a serious threat. It is affecting people across the globe irrespective of age or gender.

Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria present in our body become so strong that even antibiotics fail to suppress its effects. Antibiotics in-take no longer works in people who consume them to treat infections; instead they develop a resistance in them against the antibiotics. According to World Health Organisation, it is currently the biggest threat to public health. It is an issue that needs to be discussed immediately.

According to the report by WHO, “There is also a lack of knowledge among medical practitioners as well as the public on the rational use of antibiotics. The health sector in India needs improved management of the health care delivery systems, both public and private, which will minimize conditions favourable for the development of drug resistance” In context to India, there is a need to be more concerned about this issue since the human population is large and a high percentage of people are uneducated.

When our team had words with Dr Umesh Khanna who is a senior nephrologist and secretary of Amar Gandhi Foundation, he gave certain tips regarding antibiotic resistance topic:

Dr. Khanna suggested not to pop antibiotics without indications which means viral fever, malaria and dengue does not require antibiotic

When indicated take the full course of antibiotic eg. 7 days or 10 days or 5 days as advised.

It is advisable to take full dose of antibiotic eg 3 times or twice a day as prescribed by the physician. It is not good to stop the drug in between or take intermittently.

A culture test some time should be done to guide treatment to avoid resistance

Try avoiding substandard antibiotics or changing brands of antibiotics. 5. Avoid combining antibiotics on OPD basis unless prescribed by a doctor

Don’t take antibiotic on suspicion of infection and on your own from a pharmacy without a doctor’s advice. Even Google or any other Internet resource lacks in clinical judgment and experience.

There is a need to create awareness about antibiotic resistance among the people. Not only uneducated, educated people also lack the know-how of antibiotic use. On World Health Day, let’s spare some time to discussion the issue among our friends and relatives and wish for a healthy tomorrow.