Bacterial Infections
The good news about having a bacterial infection is that most of them can be treated with antibiotics. If you have strep throat, or a urinary tract infection it is bacterial. Some conditions can be caused by either bacteria or viruses, so your doctor will want to test to see what kind it is before treating. Overuse of antibiotics has made some bacteria resistant, so the search for new and more effective antibiotics is a medical priority.
Recently Answered
- Q What is actinomycosis?
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Actinomycosis is a subacute-to-chronic infection that causes periodontal (gum and jaw) disease. Subacute infections are between acute and chronic in duration, while chronic infections are infections that last more than six months. Actinomycosis... Full Answer
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- Q How is actinomycosis diagnosed?
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About 10-20% of actinomycosis infections occur in the abdomen and pelvis. It occurs most commonly in the ileocecal region, which is the lower small intestine and upper large intestine, and resembles an intestinal tumor. Diagnosis is usually made... Full Answer
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- Q What causes actinomycosis?
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Actinomycosis is caused by Actinomyces species, anaerobic-to-microaerophilic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria grow in the absence of oxygen, whereas microaerophilic bacteria grow in the presence of oxygen but can switch from aerobic respiration to... Full Answer
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- Q How is actinomycosis treated?
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Actinomyces bacteria are usually sensitive to penicillin, which is often used for treatment. If a patient is allergic to penicillin, however, tetracycline and erythromycin can be used. If fistulas are present, they must be flushed with saline and... Full Answer
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- Q How is a throat culture used to diagnose bacterial throat infections?
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A throat culture is the traditional technique used to diagnose throat infections. A swab is taken from the throat and sent to the lab for analysis. The sample is placed on a culture with nutrients, where, if bacteria are present, they grow and can be... Full Answer
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- Q How does my environment affect bacterial throat infections?
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The air you are breathing can have a significant impact on your and your children's bacterial throat infections. It can affect the risk and severity of infection. Humidifiers can help keep your mucous membranes cool and moist. Cigarette smoke increases... Full Answer
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- Q What is the difference between viral and bacterial throat infections?
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Throat infections can cause similar types of symptoms even if they have different causes. Although most people are familiar with strep throat as a cause of throat problems, similar symptoms are often also caused by viruses. Viruses are often more... Full Answer
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- Q How do bacterial throat infections affect the body?
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Bacterial throat infections can affect the whole body. In addition to causing inflammation of the throat, they can result in inflammation of kidneys and joints if the infection spreads. They also provoke fever, which has effects throughout the body,... Full Answer
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- Q How do I manage my bacterial throat infection?
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If you are already being treated with antibiotics, be sure to keep taking your medicine regularly for as long as it was prescribed. To help manage your infection, you should also get rest and drink water. Eat foods that are easy to digest; stay... Full Answer
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- Q Do bacterial throat infections affect children differently than adults?
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Bacterial throat infections do not affect children much differently than they do adults. However, they do affect children much more frequently. Strep throat in particular primarily affects children over five but under 15. Children should also be more... Full Answer
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