Antibiotics are not always the right solution. 

Antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections. However, many common illnesses, such as colds, the flu, or even some ear and sinus infections, are caused by viruses.

Viruses and bacteria are very different, and antibiotics have no effect on viruses. 

When we use antibiotics unnecessarily, such as for a viral infection, they don't help you recover and can actually cause harm. 

One of the biggest concerns is antibiotic resistance. This happens when bacteria evolve and become resistant to the antibiotics we have, meaning the medications may not work when we really need them.

The good news is that most viral infections will improve on their own with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter treatments to relieve symptoms.

If your condition changes or doesn’t improve after a few days, we can reassess and make sure there’s no bacterial infection that might require different treatment.

Updated 25 September 2024 23:53