Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic that is used to treat many different conditions. Uses for ciprofloxacin include urinary tract infection and sinusitis treatment, among others. In addition, it has also been found to be effective in the treatment of anthrax exposure, though other forms of medication or treatment may also be required for best results. Children should not use ciprofloxacin, as research has found that the medication may result in serious and permanent damage to the musculoskeletal system.
Common uses for ciprofloxacin include the treatment of urinary tract infections, or UTIs. The drug helps to treat this condition by preventing protein growth, which is needed for reproduction by the bacteria which cause the infections. Though other forms of treatment for this condition exist, ciprofloxacin is considered to be the most effective prescription medication. In order to be most effective, use of the drug should be started as soon as the initial symptoms of a urinary tract infection appear. Though it can be effective with more advanced infection, success rates are not as high.
Sinusitis treatment is among the other uses for ciprofloxacin. Like urinary tract infections, sinusitis occurs because of an infection, this time linked to the sinus cavities of the skull. Ciprofloxacin is effective in both chronic and acute sinusitis, though is often not effective in the most serious cases. In addition, it is usually not prescribed in cases where medication is required continuously for an extended period of time, for side effects associated with its use can be serious. Those who must taken ciprofloxacin for a significant period must often take additional medications in order to offset side effects.
In some cases, uses for ciprofloxacin also include anthrax treatment. The effectiveness of ciprofloxacin for anthrax treatment was first discovered after terrorist attacks on the United States in the early 1990s. Though the medication has been found to be highly effective in the initial treatment of the condition, follow-up care is often required. Those who believe that they may have been exposed to anthrax should not rely only on ciprofloxacin for complete treatment of anthrax exposure. A qualified medical professional can make recommendations for additional treatments.
It is important to note that ciprofloxacin use in children should be avoided as much as possible, even for the conditions described above. Though the medication may be effective at treating the diseases, studies have found that use of ciprofloxacin by children can result in severe and permanent damage to the musculoskeletal system. Children suffering from the above conditions will almost always be treated by other methods.