Under what conditions are antibiotics added to the treatment of herpes? The advisability of using antibiotics for herpes Antibacterial ointments during the period of regression of herpes.

Antibiotics for herpes are used quite rarely due to the viral etiology of the disease. Doctors include drugs with antibacterial activity in patients’ therapeutic regimens to suppress secondary bacterial infections. At the initial stage of viral pathology, the use of macrolides or cephalosporins will not have any therapeutic effect, but will provoke serious complications. Only a doctor can prescribe antibiotics for herpes on the body or face. It takes into account the results of laboratory tests, the patient’s age and a history of chronic diseases.

Indications for use

In the treatment of herpes type 1 or 2, antiviral drugs are used in combination with immunomodulators. They help strengthen a person’s defenses and mobilize the body to fight pathogens. If adults or children have high resistance to infectious agents, then the immune system independently copes with herpes viruses and does not require the use of pharmacological drugs.

“Warning: Self-medication with antibiotics will cause a sharp decrease in immunity and even greater activation of herpes viruses. This will significantly delay recovery and lead to a decrease in the functional activity of all vital systems.”

After a person is infected through domestic or sexual contact, herpes viruses remain forever in the human body, manifesting themselves in relapses after a sharp decrease in protective forces. In some cases, the immune system cannot cope, and pathogenic bacteria penetrate into inflammatory foci:

staphylococci;
streptococci;
pneumococci;
proteas;
coli.

Antibiotics for herpes are used to destroy them and prevent spread to healthy tissues and organs. As a rule, such a need arises when diagnosing the following pathological conditions:

lacunar or necrotizing tonsillitis;
ulcers with purulent contents formed on the skin;
general intoxication of the body;
acute inflammatory process in one or more internal organs (kidneys, bladder, liver, urethra);
concomitant with the underlying pathology of sexually transmitted infection.

Antibacterial agents are included in therapeutic regimens for herpes viruses that cause frequent and sharp rises in body temperature above subfebrile values. An indication for the use of antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs is a pathological change in blood composition. Often, when the immune system is weakened, yeast-like fungi penetrate into the upper respiratory tract or skin rashes. To destroy them, it is practiced to use a combination of antifungal agents (Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Ketoconazole) and antibiotics.

Main groups of antibacterial agents

Treatment of herpes with antibiotics is carried out taking into account the results of laboratory tests, during which the species of the pathogenic microorganism is established. Determining the sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria to the main groups of antibacterial drugs is also important. Some studies last several days, and the patient may require urgent antibiotic therapy. In such cases, doctors prescribe broad-spectrum drugs that exhibit bactericidal activity against most infectious agents of herpetic eruptions. Drugs must meet the following requirements:

be resistant to enzymes produced by bacterial cells;
maintain maximum therapeutic concentration for a long time;
easily absorbed into the systemic circulation and target organs.

To minimize the consequences of antibiotic therapy, the doctor selects drugs with low toxicity that do not have a negative effect on the functioning of the liver and organs of the urinary system.

“Advice: After taking drugs with antibacterial activity, patients are recommended to take eubiotics - Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Acipol, Linex, Hilak Forte. This will help quickly restore the optimal balance of intestinal microflora.”

Cephalosporins

Antibiotics often prescribed for genital herpes include the group of cephalosporins. In severe cases of pathology, it is practiced to use drugs in the form of injection solutions for intramuscular administration. This method of using medications helps to quickly stop all inflammatory processes and reduce the severity of clinical manifestations. Depending on the age and general health of the patient, the doctor may prescribe the following medications:

first generation cephalosporins - Cefazolin, Cephalexin, Cefadroxil;
second generation cephalosporins - Cefuroxime, Cefaclor, Cefamandole;
third generation cephalosporins - Cefotaxime, Cefoperazone, Ceftriaxone, Ceftibuten, Ceftazidime;
fourth generation of cephalosporins - Cefpirom, Cefepime;
fifth generation of cephalosporins - Cefpirom, Cefepime.

These antibiotics always become the first choice drugs when diagnosing genital herpes at the stage of acute relapse. Most often, doctors give preference to second- and third-generation drugs, which maintain the maximum therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream for a long time. If laboratory tests reveal the presence of gram-negative pathogenic bacteria in the patient, then Cefpodoxime or Cefixime must be included in the treatment regimen. The disadvantages of cephalosporins include the need for frequent oral tablets or capsules throughout the day.

Lincosamides

Course use of cephalosporins sometimes provokes symptoms of dyspeptic disorders in adults and children - nausea, vomiting, excessive gas formation. In such cases, as well as when allergic rashes appear, antibacterial agents are replaced with lincosamides. This group of antibiotics is characterized by low toxicity and fairly high therapeutic activity. It is especially advisable to prescribe lincosamides when diagnosing infections caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. The following antibacterial drugs are most effective:

Lincomycin;
Clindamycin.

Lincosamides exhibit the same bactericidal activity regardless of the route of administration - parenteral or oral. This group of antibacterial drugs also does not have a selective effect, destroying microorganisms with both fast and slow cell division. In the treatment of herpes, which occurs against the background of general intoxication of the body with waste products of staphylococci or E. coli, a combination of lincosamides with antimicrobial agents is used. As a rule, doctors include Metronidazole or its imported analogue Trichopolum in therapeutic regimens. The combination of drugs allows you to maximally prolong the bactericidal effect and significantly speed up recovery.

Macrolides

Antibiotics from the macrolide group are also used against herpes. Their use is most relevant if the bacterial infection is complicated by the penetration of mycoplasmas and chlamydia into the body. In this case, the administration of cephalosporins and lincosamides will not bring the desired result, since their active substances do not penetrate into bacterial cells. For complicated herpes, the use of drugs from the macrolide group is practiced:

Clarithromycin;
Azithromycin.

The association of herpetic eruptions with infection by intracellular microorganisms does not require long-term treatment. Usually, three days of using macrolides is enough to completely destroy all types of pathogens.

Semi-synthetic penicillins

The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for bacterial infections are semisynthetic penicillins, such as Amoxicillin. But not with herpes types 1 and 2. With this disease, the body often reacts to this group of drugs with severe skin rashes that are difficult to treat. Semi-synthetic penicillins can be prescribed in exceptional cases when the use of other antibacterial agents has not brought the desired result. The therapeutic regimen also includes antihistamines (Loratadine, Suprastin, Tavegil) to prevent the development of allergic reactions and relieve swelling. Protected synthetic penicillins have the greatest bactericidal activity:

Amoxiclav;
Panclave;
Augmentin;
Flemoclav.

The drugs contain clavulanic acid, which does not have a therapeutic effect. Its main function is to prevent resistance of pathogenic bacteria to semi-synthetic penicillins.

The dangers of antibiotic therapy

The use of the most modern antibiotics for any type of herpes makes no sense. Viruses are intracellular inhabitants that penetrate the systemic bloodstream during relapses of the disease. Antibiotics do not exhibit antiviral activity either at the stage of remission or during exacerbation of the pathology. Doctors prescribe this group of drugs to patients in exceptional cases when they really cannot be avoided. It's all about the lack of selective action of antibiotics and the presence of serious side effects. What results from the inappropriate use of antibacterial agents for herpes on the lips or body:

development of resistance to cephalosporins or macrolides by pathogenic microorganisms, which will subsequently negatively affect their therapeutic activity;
decrease in the functional activity of the immune system in neutralizing and destroying allergic and infectious agents;
cumulation (accumulation) of active and auxiliary ingredients of drugs in the cells and tissues of the body.

The use of antibiotics causes a serious blow to the intestinal microflora. The number of lacto- and bifidobacteria decreases, and in their place opportunistic E. coli, staphylococci, and yeast-like fungi begin to grow and actively multiply. All this causes an even greater decrease in immunity and activation of herpes viruses.

When treating herpes, you should not exceed the dosage of antibiotics recommended by your doctor in hopes of speeding up recovery. The effect will be the opposite - the complications provoked will lead to an increase in the duration of the therapeutic course.”

Herpes occurs in almost ninety percent of the population. The disease is caused by the herpes virus, which can be transmitted in completely different ways. Treatment involves taking antiherpetic drugs. But in some cases, antibacterial agents are prescribed. In what cases should you take antibiotics for herpes?

Since herpes is a viral infection, the patient is prescribed antiviral drugs. They are usually divided into two groups:

nucleosides. Such drugs are prescribed most often. These include Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Ribavirin;
agents that have activity against herpes simplex. These include Maribavir, Indolocarbazole.

Acyclovir or Valacyclovir are often used.

Acyclovir is available in tablet and ointment form. The ointment is used as a local preparation for minor damage to the skin. It is effective at the initial stage of development. The affected area should be smeared three to four times for five days. Acyclovir tablets are recommended to be taken orally when the virus is highly active. The duration of the treatment course is five to seven days, until the symptoms of herpes infection disappear completely.

Valaciclovir is a drug that is similar to Acyclovir. But it is generally considered more effective. The drug is released in the form of tablets. And the duration of the treatment course is three to five days.

Use of antibiotics for herpes

Many patients, when a herpes infection occurs, purchase antibacterial agents from pharmacies. But how effective are they in treatment?
Herpes is a virus that invades DNA. It lives in the human body constantly, and when favorable conditions arise, it begins to actively grow and multiply.

Antiviral agents are able to penetrate the cellular structure of the virus, which allows it to be reactivated. But taking antibiotics for simple herpes is simply pointless. Antibacterial drugs do not have the ability to penetrate viruses and destroy them.

But in some situations, herpes is treated with antibiotics. This happens if a secondary infection is added to the viral infection. These include:

lacunar tonsillitis;
necrotizing tonsillitis;
pneumonia;
purulent lesions of the skin;
diseases of the genital area of the bacterial type;
purulent intoxication;
pleurisy and diseases of internal organs.

Also indicated are changes in blood composition during herpes infection and a prolonged febrile state, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature above 38.5 degrees.

Prescription of antibacterial agents for herpes

If herpes is treated with antibiotics, then it is necessary to find out what pathogen caused the disease and whether it is susceptible to such drugs. Often, streptococci, staphylococci, candida and hemophilus influenzae are associated with herpes infection.

After the analysis, the doctor selects an effective drug. Bacterial infection with herpes is treated with:

second and third generation cephalosporins;
macrolides;
penicillins;
lincosamides.

Patients are often prescribed Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Azithromycin. The duration of the treatment course is from five to seven days. To prevent antibiotics for herpes from causing irritation to the digestive system, it is necessary to take medications that contain probiotics. These include Linex, Normobact, Bifiform.

The use of antibacterial ointments for herpes

If the doctor has determined that the disease was caused by bacteria, then antibacterial ointments can be used at the regression stage. They are applied at the moment when the bubbles have already begun to burst. Antibacterial ointments will help:

protect the affected surface from infection with various bacteria and the development of furunculosis;
accelerate the tissue healing process;
prevent the formation of ulcers on the facial and body areas.

levomekol;
tetracycline ointment;
erythromycin ointment;
Pimafucin;
zinc ointment.

In the initial stages of herpes development, you can use oils that have antibiotic properties, such as tea tree, fir and sea buckthorn.

Treatment of herpes in children

Herpes infection is considered a dangerous disease for children. Although the disease is not so severe, there is a risk of complications in the form of:

meningitis, encephalitis;
eye diseases;
gingivitis and stomatitis;
liver damage.

Treatment of herpes in children involves taking antiviral drugs. If the temperature is maintained for more than five days, the wound begins to fester, or there is a suspicion of the development of pneumonia or necrotizing tonsillitis, then the doctor may prescribe an antibacterial drug. The duration of the treatment course is seven to eight days.

After recovery, parents need to think about strengthening their immune function. It will no longer be possible to completely eliminate the virus, but everything can be done to ensure that it never begins its active activity. To do this you need:

carry out hardening procedures;
drink vitamin complexes;
eat right;
observe hygiene rules;
exercise;
lead an active lifestyle.

Do not cauterize the affected areas with alcohol tinctures, iodine, or potassium permanganate. They have no activity against the virus. And besides, they can leave a burn on the skin.

To prevent a bacterial infection from joining herpes, you need to start the treatment process when the first signs appear. Touching the affected area with your hands is also prohibited, as there is a possibility of infecting other organs.

Antibacterial agents for herpes are used extremely rarely due to the viral origin of the disease. Doctors include medications with antibiotics in people’s therapeutic regimens to suppress secondary bacterial infections.

At the initial stage of the viral pathological process, the use of macrolides or cephalosporins will not have any therapeutic effect, but will provoke serious complications. Only a medical specialist can prescribe antibiotics for herpes on the body or face. It takes into account research results, a person’s age and a history of chronic illnesses. What antibiotics to take for herpes?

Indications

When eliminating herpes of the second or third type, antiviral drugs are used simultaneously with immunomodulators. They help strengthen the human immune system and encourage the body to fight the source of the disease. If adult patients or children have increased resistance to infectious microorganisms, then the defense system will independently cope with herpes viruses; it does not need to take therapeutic agents. Can herpes be treated with antibiotics? It is possible, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.

It is important to remember that self-prescribing antimicrobial drugs can cause a sharp deterioration of immunity and even greater activation of herpes viruses. This will significantly delay recovery and lead to a decrease in the functional activity of all systems in the body.

After a person is infected through domestic or sexual contact, herpes viruses remain forever in the human body, manifesting themselves in the resumption of the disease after a sharp decrease in immunity. In rare situations, the defense system fails, and pathogenic bacteria enter the sources of inflammation:

staphylococci;
streptococci;
pneumococci;
proteas;
coli.

Antibacterial agents for herpes are used to eliminate them and prevent spread to healthy tissues and systems.

For what other diseases are antibiotics prescribed? Herpes symptoms

Typically, this need arises when diagnosing the following pathologies:

Lacunar or necrotizing tonsillitis.
Ulcers formed on the skin with purulent exudate.
General intoxication of the body.
Acute inflammation in one or more internal organs.
Venereal infection.

Herpes in the mouth in adults has the following symptoms:

Mild herpes is almost asymptomatic. During a medical examination of the oral cavity, swelling of the mucous cavity and small wounds are visible, which heal in a short time. Sometimes the temperature rises.
Moderate oral herpes is characterized by changes in blood test values.
Severe herpes of the oral mucosa is characterized by a sharp deterioration in health. The lymph nodes of the submandibular and cervical zone become inflamed. The oral mucosa becomes covered with blistering rashes.

Antibiotics are included in therapeutic treatments for herpes viruses, which cause frequent and sharp increases in body temperature above subfebrile levels. An indication for taking antimicrobial agents is pathology in the blood. Often, when protective functions are weakened, yeast-like fungi enter the upper respiratory tract or skin. To eliminate them, a combination of antifungal drugs and antibacterial agents is used.

Main groups of antibiotics

Elimination of herpes with antimicrobial drugs is carried out taking into account the results of laboratory tests, during which the species of the pathogen is established. Determining the sensitivity of harmful bacteria to the main groups of antibiotics is also of great importance. Some tests sometimes take several days to complete, and the person may require immediate treatment with antimicrobial drugs. In such situations, doctors prescribe drugs with a wide range of effects that exhibit bactericidal activity against most infectious pathogens of herpetic rash. Medicines must meet the following requirements:

Be resistant to strains that bacterial cells produce.
Maintain the maximum pharmacological content of the active substance for a long time.
Easily absorbed into the general bloodstream and target organs.

To minimize the results of antibiotic therapy, the doctor selects medications with low toxicity that do not have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the liver and genitourinary system.

After consuming drugs with antibacterial activity, people are recommended to take eubiotics:

"Bifidumbacterin".
"Lactobacterin".
"Acipol."
"Linex".
"Hilak Forte".

This will help instantly restore the optimal balance of intestinal microflora.

Cephalosporins

Antibacterial agents often recommended for genital herpes include cephalosporins. When the pathological process is complex, it is practiced to use medications in the form of injection solutions for intramuscular administration. This method of using drugs helps to quickly eliminate all inflammatory processes and reduce the severity of clinical symptoms. Depending on your age and health status, your doctor may prescribe the following medications:

"Cefazolin".
"Cephalexin".
"Cefadroxyl".
"Cefuroxime".
"Cefaclor".
"Cefamandole".
"Cefotaxime".
"Cefoperazone".
"Ceftriaxone".
"Ceftibuten".
"Ceftazidime".
"Cefpirom".
"Cefepime."
"Cefpirom".
"Cefepime."

These antimicrobial agents always become the first choice medications when diagnosing genital herpes during an acute relapse. In most cases, medical specialists give preference to second- and third-generation drugs, which maintain maximum pharmacological concentrations in the bloodstream for a long time. If laboratory tests reveal the presence of gram-negative pathogenic bacteria in a person, then Cefpodoxime or Cefixime must be included in the therapeutic regimen. The disadvantages of cephalosporins include the need to frequently take tablets or capsules throughout the day.

Lincosamides

Cephalosporin therapy sometimes causes signs of dyspeptic disorders in adult patients and children:

nausea;
bouts of vomiting;
excessive gas formation.

In such situations, as well as when allergies occur, antibiotics are replaced with lincosamides. This group of antimicrobial agents is characterized by low intoxication and rather increased pharmacological activity. The use of lincosamides is especially advisable when diagnosing infections caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. The most effective antibiotics are:

"Lincomycin".
"Clindamycin."

Lincomycins have the same bactericidal activity regardless of the route of administration: parenteral or oral. This group of antibiotics also does not have a selective effect, destroying harmful microorganisms with fast and slow cell division.

To eliminate herpes, which occurs against the background of general toxicity of the body from waste products of staphylococci or E. coli, a combination of lincosamides with other antibiotics is used. Typically, medical specialists include Metronidazole or its foreign substitute Trichopolum in treatment regimens. The combination of drugs helps to prolong the bactericidal effect as much as possible and significantly speed up the healing process.

Macrolides

Antimicrobial agents from the macrolide group are also used against herpes. Their use, as a rule, is relevant if the infection is complicated by the entry of mycoplasmas and chlamydia into the body. In this situation, the administration of cephalosporins and lincosamides will not bring a positive effect, since their active components do not enter the bacterial cells. For complicated herpes, the use of drugs from the macrolide group is practiced:

"Clarithromycin."
"Azithromycin".

Grouped with infection by intracellular pathogens does not require long-term therapy. As a rule, three days of using macrolides is enough to completely eliminate all pathogens.

Semi-synthetic penicillins

Antibacterial agents are often prescribed for bacterial diseases (Amoxicillin). But not with herpes of the first and second types.

With this disease, the body in most cases reacts to this group of medications with a severe skin rash that is difficult to eliminate. Azithromycin, Ampicillin are also widely used for herpes.

Antibiotics of the penicillin type, which are obtained by the synthetic addition of certain chemical groups, can be prescribed in rare situations when the use of other antimicrobial agents has not brought the desired effect. The treatment regimen also includes antihistamines:

"Loratadine."
"Suprastin".
"Tavegil".

They are necessary to prevent the occurrence of allergic manifestations and eliminate swelling.

Which antibiotics for herpes are most effective?

Protected penicillins have the greatest bactericidal activity:

"Amoxiclav".
"Panclave".
"Augmentin".
"Amoxicillin."
"Flemoklav".

The structure of the medications includes clavulanic acid, which does not have a therapeutic effect. Its main task is to prevent resistance of pathogenic bacteria to semi-synthetic penicillins. Next, we will consider the most effective drug in the treatment of an unpleasant disease.

In addition to these medications, there are also antiviral drugs for herpes, for example:

"Acyclovir".
"Zovirax".
"Famvir."
"Valtrex".

These drugs are produced in the form of a gel or cream for application to the affected area of the skin.

"Amoxicillin" (500 mg)

According to the instructions for use, it is known that this is a semi-synthetic medicine from the penicillin group. The spectrum of action of this drug is based on its ability to specifically reduce the rate of enzymes in bacterial cell membranes, which leads to the elimination and dissolution of the cell.

The active substance is not destroyed under the influence of gastric juice and is completely absorbed from the digestive organs. It reaches its maximum level in the blood after about two hours. When doubling the dosage, its concentration also doubles. Total absorption does not depend on food intake.

According to the instructions for use of Amoxicillin 500 mg, it is known that the half-life is one and a half hours. In people of retirement age, the half-life is longer.

For kidney diseases - up to twenty hours. About sixty percent of Amoxicillin is excreted in urine, a small part is excreted in feces.

What are the dangers of taking antibiotics?

Antibiotics for herpes do not have antiviral activity either in remission or during exacerbation of the disease. Doctors prescribe this group of medications to people in exceptional situations when they cannot be avoided. The whole point is the lack of selective action of antimicrobial agents and the presence of serious adverse reactions.

The use of modern antibiotics for any type of herpes is pointless. Viruses are intracellular residents that enter the general bloodstream when the disease resumes.

Improper use of antibiotics for herpes on the lips or body can lead to the following:

The development of resistance to cephalosporins and macrolides by pathogenic microorganisms, which will further adversely affect their therapeutic activity.
Reducing the functional activity of the body's defense in neutralizing and eliminating allergic and infectious agents.
The accumulation of basic and additional components in the cells and tissues of the body.

The use of antibacterial agents causes serious damage to the intestinal microflora. The number of bifidobacteria decreases, and in their place staphylococci and yeast-like fungi begin to form and actively spread. All this causes an even greater decrease in the body’s protective functions and the activation of herpes viruses.

Humanity has been familiar with herpes since ancient times. There is an opinion that fever or cold – as blistering rashes are popularly called – most often appears on the lips. In fact, this is not so - the rash can be located on the eyes, on the genitals and on various areas of the skin.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands the seriousness of this disease; many people often self-medicate and use medications on the advice of friends, which are not only useless, but can also worsen the course of the disease. In particular, a herpes infection cannot be treated, as many do, with antibiotics - drugs of this group are prescribed to a person in combination with antiviral drugs and only in cases where there are certain indications for this.

Antiviral drugs are able to penetrate inside cellular structures and destroy the DNA of the virus. Antibacterial agents, which include antibiotics, cannot do this. Therefore, using these drugs for herpes is absolutely pointless.

Doctors prescribe antibiotics for herpes only when the patient has a concomitant secondary infection of fungal or bacterial origin against the background of the disease.

Such cases include necrotic or lacunar tonsillitis, pleurisy or pneumonia, pustular skin diseases, including purulent intoxication, internal infectious diseases, bacterial diseases of the genital organs. Also, an indication for prescribing antibiotics is a high temperature (above 38.5 degrees), which lasts more than two to three days.

What drugs are used in complex treatment

If a secondary infection is associated with herpes and antibiotics are required, the doctor will definitely prescribe an additional examination, in particular bacterial culture. Since Haemophilus influenzae, pyogenic streptococcal, staphylococcal or candidal infections, which most often accompany herpes, are sensitive to antibiotics of various groups, the appropriate drugs are selected based on the results of the examination strictly individually.

Of the modern antibiotics in complex treatment, along with antiviral drugs against herpes, the following are used:

lincosamides;
drugs of cephalosporin group I and II generation;
macrolides;
antifungal agents (Metronidazole, Fluconazole).

The duration of treatment usually varies from 5 to 10 days and depends on the severity and extent of concomitant infection.

It is important to know that not all antibiotics can be used for herpes: in this case, aminopenicillins are never prescribed. Drugs in this group, which include Amoxicillin, Oxacillin, Ampicillin, can cause exanthema (a specific rash) on the skin that is difficult to treat.

In what cases can antibiotic ointments be used?

When the skin manifestations of a herpetic infection enter the regression stage, it becomes advisable to use antibiotic ointments. After the blisters begin to burst and crust over, Erythromycin, Tetracycline, and Streptocide ointments help very well.

Tebrofenovaya, Zinc ointments, Levomekol, Pimafucin are also used. All these remedies, applied topically, protect wounds from infection and secondary infections, accelerate healing, and prevent the development of herpetic non-healing ulcers in the genital area, on the face and body.

Antibiotic ointments are best used with antiviral ointments (Oxolinic, Acyclovir, Panavir, Serol), since without antiviral treatment there can be no positive results.

It should be noted that for genital herpes, neither antiviral ointments nor antibiotic ointments are prescribed, since their use in this case is ineffective.

Why you shouldn’t take antibiotics uncontrollably

Treating herpes with antibiotics is a big mistake. They cannot cope with the virus, and the ability of these drugs to suppress the immune system can harm the body, which is already weakened by the viral infection.

Uncontrolled long-term use of antibiotics of the same series can lead to the development of a pathogen resistant to this drug in the body.

Frequent self-use of antibiotics without prescribing desensitizing drugs increases the risk of developing allergic reactions.

When taking antibiotics for herpes, you should remember that they can cause dysbiosis. Along with pathogenic microorganisms, during treatment the normal (useful) microflora that lives in the intestines and mucous membranes dies, which leads to the fact that pathogenic fungi and bacteria take their place. As a result - fungal pharyngitis, thrush, enteritis and a number of other diseases.

The ability of antibiotics to accumulate in the liver, bone marrow, and kidneys indicates their toxicity and can lead to serious consequences. To prevent them, it is very important to strictly adhere to the doses prescribed and justified by the doctor, as well as the recommended duration of treatment.

Treating herpes with antibiotics alone is a waste of time. They are good against bacterial infections, but have no effect on viruses. At first glance, antibiotics for herpes are useless, but there are cases when they are prescribed in parallel with antiviral drugs.

When are antibiotics prescribed?

Treatment is prescribed in cases of complicated herpes, when a bacterial infection is added to a viral infection. Concomitant infections that are treated with antibiotics are:

staphylococcus, causing purulent complications;
streptococcus, leading to erysipelas or abscesses;
candidiasis, fungal skin infection.

The list of infections is, of course, incomplete. Antibiotics are prescribed, as a rule, for 5-7 days; it happens that therapy is extended to 10 days. Ampicillin and Amoxicillin are not used against complicated herpes. They can cause an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, which will only complicate the course of the disease.

It is possible to apply the appropriate ointment. This is the treatment or prevention of various types of suppuration. Such topical products promote wound healing and prevent the rash from spreading on the body. They recommend “” and “Tetracycline” ointments. They most effectively treat herpes of the eyes and lips. Although there is an opposite opinion that it is useless to treat sores on the lips. These products are not suitable for the mucous membrane of genital herpes in women.

The use of antibacterial agents for external use (ointment, cream), or oral administration of tablets containing an antibiotic requires medical consultation.

Types of antibiotics

Depending on the type of infection, the following are prescribed:

cephalosporins;
macrolides;
lincosamides.

In parallel, antifungal agents are prescribed. The cephalosporin group (these are “Zinnat”, “Cefazolin”, “Ceftriaxone”) is characterized by a wide spectrum of action and high antibacterial activity. Effective against staphylococcus and streptococcus.

Macrolides (“Erythromycin”, “Azithromycin”) are the least toxic. In addition to antibacterial properties, macrolides have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Used for infections of the skin and soft tissues.

Lincosamides (“Lincomycin”, “Clindamycin”) are active against staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci. At the same time, “Clindamycin” is many times more effective in terms of indicators.

They begin to use antibacterial medications if herpes rashes do not heal, become wet, and turn into pustules. An exception is the tetracycline series: it can be applied to the rash immediately after its appearance, several times a day. But ointment is not used on mucous membranes. It is not used for treatment of genital herpes. But it gives good results when treating eye herpes. Doxycycline or Synthomycin, tetracycline drugs, may be prescribed.

Doxycycline preparations are well absorbed (almost 100%) and eliminate purulent infections of the skin and soft tissues. The dosage depends on the causative agent of the disease. “Sintomycin” is a substance with a broad spectrum of action. Prescribed for infections resistant to tetracycline.

Antibiotics for children and pregnant women

It is dangerous due to complications, as they can lead to disruption of the functioning of internal organs and disability. The most common and dangerous complications arising from herpes are:

meningitis, encephalitis, which develops in both newborns and older children. Even with the initiation of timely therapy, death is possible;
Cerebral palsy, which develops in a severe form of the disease without proper care for the child;
eye infections (keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal erosion);
gingivitis and stomatitis. As a rule, they are a continuation of herpes disease;
severe liver damage, including hepatitis.

When diagnosing herpes, the pediatrician will not recommend antibacterial tablets. Antiviral drugs will be prescribed as the main therapy, and broad-spectrum antibiotics will be prescribed as concomitant therapy to prevent such dangerous consequences. Needless to say, hospitalization and constant medical supervision are indicated for young children under 3 years of age and infants.

Children will be prescribed an antibacterial agent in case of elevated temperature that lasts more than 5 days, subtle signs of an inflammatory process on the body, as well as suspected necrotizing tonsillitis or pneumonia, which can be considered the most “harmless” complications.

As for pregnant women, taking the most harmless medicine should be agreed with a doctor. A pregnant woman bears double responsibility – for her own health and that of her child. Antibiotics are prescribed if the benefit to the mother far outweighs the risk to the fetus. Of the listed antibiotics during pregnancy, only “Erythromycin” can be taken, and only in case of emergency.