Where There Is No Doctor 2011 57
7. As a general rule, use streptomycin, and products that contain it, only for
tuberculosis—and always together with other anti–tuberculosis medicines (see
p. 361). Streptomycin in combination with penicillin can be used for deep wounds to
the gut, appendicitis, and other specific infections when ampicillin is not available
(or is too costly). but should never be used for colds, flu, and common respiratory
infections.
8. All medicines in the streptomycin group (including kanamycin and gentamicin)
are quite toxic (poisonous). Too often they are prescribed for mild infections where
they may do more harm than good. Use only for certain very serious infections for
which these medicines are recommended.
9. Eating yogurt or curdled milk helps to replace necessary bacteria killed by
antibiotics like ampicillin and to return the body’s natural balance to normal (see
next page).
WHAT TO DO IF AN ANTIBIOTIC DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP
For most common infections antibiotics begin to bring improvement in a day or
two. If the antibiotic you are using does not seem to help, it is possible that:
1. The illness is not what you think. You may be using the wrong medicine. Try to
find out more exactly what the illness is—and use the right medicine.
2. The dose of the antibiotic is not correct. Check it.
3. The bacteria have become resistant to this antibiotic (they no longer are
harmed by it). Try another one of the antibiotics recommended for that illness.
4. You may not know enough to cure the illness. Get medical help, especially if
the condition is serious or getting worse.
These three children had a cold...
What was
the villain?
What took
the toll?
Why did this child
get well again?
Penicillin!
(see Allergic
Shock, p. 70)
Chloramphenicol!
(see risks and precautions
for this drug, p. 356)
He got no
risky medicine—
just fruit juice,
good food, and rest.
Antibiotics do no good for the common cold.
Use antibiotics only for infections they are known to help.