If you are feeling ill and you think you have a bacterial infection you should see a doctor. However, if you cannot see a doctor you may be able to treat the infection on your own. You should do this early, before you become very ill, and always discuss your medical condition with someone close to you so they can help you make the right decision about heading to the emergency room.
Self-medicating is dangerous but sometimes it is necessary. There are a few kinds of infections that, if caught early, you can treat yourself with a good chance of recovery. But always search for local community health resources like an Ask-a-Nurse phone line or a county clinic that treats people regardless of their ability to pay.
Signs of bacterial infection may include redness of skin (and/or large swelling) for skin-borne infections, fever, nausea, or production of mucous in your lungs (coughing up colored phlegm) and sinuses.
Let's take the skin infection first. You may think you have a pimple in an odd place. This could be the first sign of a serious infection. Do not pop it. Instead, apply honey or an anti-bacterial cream with a bandage. Change the dressing 2-3 times a day. If you have rubbing alcohol can try gently swabbing it with a sterile cotton pad before you apply a new dressing.
If the redness or swelling grows, or if more pimple-like bumps appear (forming a carbuncle) you should see a doctor as the bacterial infection is growing. If it enters your bloodstream it can spread to your heart or other vital organs and kill you.
The good news, even if you have to pay for a doctor's visit out of pocket, is that many bacterial infections are treatable with low-cost antibiotics. Ask your doctor for samples or to send the prescription to a local pharmacy that offers free antibiotics. See this article for more details on how that works.
You may be able to use a dark honey as an oral antibiotic. Manuka honey from New Zealand with a UMF score of 10 or higher is often recommended, but you can also try buckwheat honey from Illinois. The darker the honey the greater its anti-bacterial properties. 1 teaspoon in the morning and another in the evening may help. Remember that honey is a natural sweetener and if you are diabetic you should take that into consideration.
If your symptoms get worse or if they do not improve within 24 hours you should see a doctor. Honey is a great antibiotic but you cannot use just any old store-bought honey to treat an infection except in very early stages. See this article for more information on the benefits of honey.
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Regardless of whether you see a doctor, if you are suffering from a sinus infection you want to avoid travel as much as possible, especially with changes in elevation. Try breathing hot steam throughout the day. Irrigating your sinuses with salt water can clear out much of the mucous and relieve some pressure. See this article for more information.
Read the directions carefully on over-the-counter medicines. Do not make the mistake of thinking "if one is good for me then more will be better". You may cause other complications by overmedicating even with "safe" drugs.
Hot chicken soup, hot liquids like tea and broth, help you breathe better if you have a respiratory infection in your chest. You can open up your bronchial tubes with hot caffeine but too much caffeine may irritate your stomach or esophagus, especially if you suffer from GERDs. Try sitting up rather than laying down. Keep your shoulders back as hunching over makes it harder to breathe. Use a neck pillow to keep your head up if necessary.
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