Before the 20th century, the word “infection” carried much more serious implications than it does today; our ancestors knew from experience that even a small injury or mild illness could become a death sentence if sepsis (a 19th century medical term for infection) developed. However, starting in the 1920s, antiseptic awareness and the creation of antibiotic medicines, such as penicillin and sulfa drugs, dramatically reduced the mortality rate from infections. This miraculous success story has a catch, however. Within a few decades, many people began to consider infections as temporary inconveniences rather than death threats – and their complacency may have been misplaced.
In the 21st century, we face a new wave of risks from infections. Strains of bacteria have developed resistance of antibiotics, and diseases that compromise the immune system have required more complex treatments than ever before, treatments that involve more than swallowing pills or using antiseptic hand cleaner! The ability to mount a defense against infectious organisms can be affected by what we eat and, most especially, by how we sleep. Research indicates that a person who gets less than 8 hours of sleep per night may be five times more likely to contract a virus than a person who gets a solid 8 hours of sleep.
Effective treatment of infections becomes even more important as people age. As people grow older, their ability to fight infections can decrease. This vulnerability is even more of a concern for patients suffering from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Gulf War Illness, for a number of chronic infections are often associated with these conditions. These infections include Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Borrilia, Epstein Barr Virus, Cytomegalo Virus, and Herpes Hominis 6, as well as others. These diseases are often referred to as “stealth infections”, because they seem to avoid detection by the human body’s “Radar”, otherwise known as the immune system.
Stealth infections may require extensive treatment programs that combine conventional medications with alternative therapies in the effort to not only fight off the infection, but also “boost” and strengthen the immune system. In addition, Intravenous Therapies(IV) may be useful against stealth infections. An IV treatment may include specific antibiotic agents, anti-viral agents, high doses of Vitamin C, Oxidative therapy. The aim of these treatments is to rid the body of infectious organisms, if possible, or at least to render them dormant so they can no longer affect the body. Dormant infections require careful monitoring and re-treatment if necessary.
No wound or cut should be ignored or dismissed as “no big deal”. Infections may spread quickly, so good health maintenance involves rapid-response treatment, as well as careful monitoring.