Well, antibiotics aren't going to help most influenza strains, but I think the point is that they don't really know what it is for sure.

 

Antibiotics wouldn't help the symptoms of the flu either. But just in case its bacterial, they should still do it.

 

Actually, that's exactly the reason you DON'T want to use antibiotics for a flu. Because it increases the chances of getting antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. Its not wise to treat those possible bacterial infections blanket prophylactically.

 

That's what I'm saying too. In this case, since there's no way to test for what it is, its worth trying. But i'd be focusing on some antivirals as well as antibiotics.

 

For the purpose of watching a television you have to release a bit of reality. Anti-biotics is a term that the layperson equates to healing medicine. This is the one of those things you just have to rub your temples say woo-sa and let it be.

 

Yes, of course, by antibiotics TV often just means 'whatever medicine you'd use for this particular thing' lol. But we are nerds, and we post on TWD forums, so we will pick this kind of thing apart.

 

Hopefully many big words.

 

SPOILER IMAGE for the next episode
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Daryl brought back the anti-biotics! :Grin:

 

Will work about as well as the berries Hershel is giving them, for something this serious.

 

I think they were saying flu at first in the earlier episode because of the possible connection with the sick pigs, and thinking it was some form of swine flu. But with all the coughing-up-of-blood that's going on, perhaps it could be some kind of mutated, fast-moving TB or something like that? In which case, antibiotics would be ok.

But I do also agree that movies & TV use general terms when it comes to medications, which has a tendency to drive us health care professionals batty

 

Kirkman and Nicotero and others have confirmed its a flu strain similar to the Spanish Flu.

 

Aww hell, in that case, let's hope there's some Tamiflu lying around! lol