Antibiotics kill bacteria only. Most colds, sore throats and flu are viral — an antibiotic does not shorten them, does not ease the symptoms, and does not prevent complications.
In short — what to do
- Antibiotic resistance: bacteria adapt, so the drug fails on the day you truly need it.
- Real side effects: diarrhoea, rash, thrush, and sometimes severe allergy.
- Disruption of healthy gut bacteria — especially in children.
- It masks the picture, making the real illness harder to diagnose.
This topic’s video is coming soon on our channels — follow us
@lahzaem
Why does it sometimes seem to "work"?
Because a viral infection improves by itself within days — so the credit is wrongly given to the drug started on day three. The improvement was coming anyway.
What is the harm of taking it unnecessarily?
- Antibiotic resistance: bacteria adapt, so the drug fails on the day you truly need it.
- Real side effects: diarrhoea, rash, thrush, and sometimes severe allergy.
- Disruption of healthy gut bacteria — especially in children.
- It masks the picture, making the real illness harder to diagnose.
Dangerous common habits
- Using leftovers from an old prescription — wrong dose, wrong duration, possibly the wrong drug.
- Stopping when you feel better — if it was genuinely prescribed, finish the full course.
- Sharing the medicine with another family member.
- Pressing the doctor to prescribe it — declining is not neglect; it is the correct treatment.
When is an antibiotic genuinely needed?
When the infection is clearly or probably bacterial — bacterial tonsillitis, a urinary infection, pneumonia, some skin infections. The decision rests on examination and history, not on how exhausted you feel or the colour of the phlegm.
This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.