[Forgeties79]

Idk man I was in the EU recently as a US citizen. One 15min call about my sore throat and dude gave me not just Tylenol and antibiotics (not too wild) but also oral steroids which was beyond overkill for what I had - very rare moment where I didn’t do what the doctor ordered. I was very surprised to see that prescribed. They didn’t even recommend nexium or anything to protect my stomach.

[sarchertech]

If you’re youngish and healthy a short course of an oral steroid is very low risk and doesn’t require a PPI. And it’s indicated for severe throat pain.

There’s nothing wild about that prescription.

[Forgeties79]

1) not that young and 2) definitely not “severe throat pain.” Drip + mild sore throat that went a few too many days with discolored phlegm. Clearly bacterial infection, clearly needed antibiotics, but definitely not severe

[sarchertech]

Discolored phlegm doesn’t mean bacterial infection. Viral infections, and allergic sinusitis can cause it too.

Bacterial sinus infections are absurdly over treated [1]. It can take weeks to recover from a viral infection.

Not saying that you are a wuss, but my guess is, the doctor probably over-indexed on the throat pain, assumed you were a bit of wuss for calling the doctor for a sore throat, and decided to give you something to make you feel better quickly.

Either way unless you were 65+ a short course of oral steroids is very safe (and even then it’s only very mildly dangerous).

1.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/0615/p758

“Without antibiotics, rhinosinusitis resolved in 46% of patients after one week and in 64% of patients after 14 days.

Antibiotics can shorten time to resolution but in only five to 11 more people per 100 compared with placebo or no treatment.

Despite this, approximately 86% of U.S. ambulatory visits for acute rhinosinusitis result in oral antibiotic prescriptions.1 In Europe, antibiotic prescription rates for acute rhinosinusitis in primary care range from 72% to 92%”

[Forgeties79]

“Doctors don’t prescribe things unnecessarily. This guy must be a wuss. I can say that with the very little context I have.”

I think we’re done here man.

[sarchertech]

> “Doctors don’t prescribe things unnecessarily. This guy must be a wuss. I can say that with the very little context I have.”

I guess way to argue with yourself? That’s not what I said.

> Not saying that you are a wuss

Then I provided evidence to demonstrate that it’s more likely than not that the doctor prescribed you antibiotics unnecessarily.

So neither of the straw man statements you created were accurate.