Will Augmentin Help In Treating Fever, Chills And Body Aches?

Posted on Sun, 29 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 29 Jun 2014 Answered on

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Saw physician on Tuesday, XXXXXXX 17. Diagnosis: virus. Symptoms had been fever chills, body aches, productive cough. No medication prescribed due to virus diagnosis. Last 36 hours: began with ear ache. Now: headache, extremely sore throat, difficulty swallowing, intermittent shooting pain in ear/throat with intensity of 9-10/10. Because I frequently travel internationally, I carry a supply of medications. So, I have with me now Augmentin. I took 2 25mg Benadryl at 8:30 PM. The pain blew right past that at 10:45. I have not been back to sleep since then. Will starting the Augmentin be beneficial?

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Augmentin would be beneficial in travellers

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

For international travelers always the antibiotics act as saviors in spite of viral infection. I think Augmentin ( Amox plus Clavulinic acid) would help you as empirical treatment. The doctor should have given a delayed prescription.

Although the symptoms sounded to be virus it can potentially be affected by bacteria, in such a case the delayed prescription works.

Now you can take Augmentin for 5 days and I am sure you should do better. IF not you can get the swab culture to determine the right organism and antibiotic.

Hope this gives you a good direction.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli