As a child, I have been prescribed antibiotics for severe cough or some sort of infection. I have asthma and am anemic which has caused me to become more susceptible to illness and infection. Growing up, I didn’t have a say in what treatments I would undergo or what medications I would take because my parents would follow the directions of my pediatrician. Now as an adult and after taking several microbiology and health courses, I would take antibiotics depending on the severity of the infection and what bacteria was causing illness. Thankfully, I have not suffered from a severe illness in the couple years but I also trust the judgement of our family doctors. My family has been patients at OHSU for over 15 years and we have worked with our physician for over 10 years. Trust in the hospital and in our physician has absolutely shaped my opinion in when I should or would take antibiotics.
