LESSON 8

LESSON 8

MEDICINE 2 (ANTIBIOTICS)

A.    PRE READING

1.    What do the antibiotics do?
2.    What do you know about bacteria?
3.    What should the patient know about antibiotics?


B.    READ THE TEXT BELOW

                                                ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics are stong medication that fight infections in body. There are many classes of antibiotics and they have different affects on bacteria. Some antibiotics weaken cell walls. Some antibiotics block protein synthesis or DNA synthesis. Antibiotics can kill bacteria (bactericidal) or they can stop them from replicating or growing (bacteriostatic). Each antibiotic has specific characteristics and they don’t work against all type bacteria.
It is important that patients know several things about antibiotics
     Antibiotics don’t work against viral infection such cold and the flu
     Antibiotics don’t work against sore throats and cough
     It is important to finish all of medication even if you feel better

If a patient doesn’t finish the prescription, it could be dangerous. Patients usually will feel better after 2-3 days. However, the bacteria might not be completely gone. If a patient stops taking their medication, the bacteria may grow, causing the patient to become sick again. Also, the bacteria might become resistant to the antibiotic making fight. Problems can occur with antibiotics. If the patient notice a rash, swelling, or any other allergic reaction, they should stop taking the medication and contact their physician immediately. Also if the patient has problems with nausea or vomitting, they should stop the medication and contact their physician. A more tolerable might be available.

Taken from www.hospitalenglish.com

WORD LIST

•    Antibiotic        : a medicine or chemical that can destroy harmful bacteria in the body or limit their growth
•    Infection          : a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus
•    Protein            : one of the many substances found in food such as meat, cheese, fish or eggs, that          is necessary for the body to grow and be strong
•    Synthesis        : specialized the production of a substance from simpler materials after a chemical reaction
•    Replicate        : formal      to make or do something again in exactly the same way
•    viral infection   : infection that is caused by a virus
•    prescription     : a piece of paper on which a doctor writes the details of the medicine or drugs that someone needs
•    resistant          : not harmed or affected by something
•    rash                : a lot of small red spots on the skin
•    swelling          : a part of your body which has become bigger because of illness or injury
•    allergic           : having an allergy
•    nausea           : when you feel as if you are going to vomit
•    vomitting        : to empty the contents of the stomach through the mouth
•    physician       : a medical doctor, especially one who has general skill and is not a  surgeon
•    tolerable        : a quality that is acceptable, although certainly not good

Taken from Cambridge Advance Learner’s Dictionary

C.    EXERCISES

     EXERCISE 1
Answer these questions based on the text!

1.    What do the antibiotics do in the body?
2.    What ways do antibiotics do to fight bacteria?
3.    Antibiotics don’t work for common problems. Give some examples!
4.    Why is it important to fininsh the antibiotic prescription?


     EXERCISE 2

Fill the gaps in the sentences using these words from the text!
 
1.    Signs of the illness include fever, ________ and vomiting.
2.    Researchers tried many times to ________the original experiment.
3.    Bandage the wound to reduce the risk of _________.
4.    Put your foot into cold water to help the _________ go down.
5.    He came home drunk and _________ all over the kitchen floor.
6.    I'm taking _________ for a throat infection.
7.    These drugs are only available  on __________.
8.    I've got an  itchy _________ all over my chest.