Antibiotics are really good at one thing: knocking out infections caused by bacteria, like strep throat and urinary tract infections.
How do you know if you have a bacterial infection? Your doctor can tell you. And, if you need antibiotics, your doctor will make sure you get the right one for your infection.
Antibiotics won’t help your cold or flu. Period.
That’s because colds and flus are caused by viruses — and antibiotics don’t work on viruses.
Should I take antibiotics anyway, just in case?
Nope. You wouldn’t rub cough syrup on an itchy rash. So why would you take an antibiotic when you have a cold or flu?
It won’t help you feel better, and it could actually make you more sick. Like any medicine, antibiotics can have side effects, so you could end up with more symptoms — like a yeast infection, rash, or diarrhea.
You can borrow leftover antibiotics from a friend if it seems like they had the same infection. Their antibiotics will totally work for you.
Truth
Taking an antibiotic that wasn’t prescribed for you is always a bad idea! Your friend’s doctor prescribed the antibiotic and dose specifically for them, so it might not help you. And it could even make you feel worse — antibiotics can have serious side effects, like diarrhea or a yeast infection.
What’s a better bet? Go to the doctor yourself. That way, you can be sure you’re getting the treatment that’s right for you.
There are lots of other things you can do to feel better.
Kick back and relax — at home.
The extra sleep and rest will help you get better faster. Plus, if you go to work or school while you’re sick, you could get other people sick.
Drink plenty of water or hot drinks.
When you’re sick, your body needs lots of fluids to help it heal. Choose drinks like water, orange juice, or herbal tea.
Use over-the-counter medicines to treat your symptoms.
For example, pain relievers can help with headaches, pain, and fever. Saline (salt) nasal spray can help if you’ve got a runny nose.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for more advice on medicines and home remedies you can use to feel better.
Ugh, it’s not going away — do I need to call my doctor?
Most of the time, colds and flu get better on their own, in about 1 to 2 weeks. Go see your doctor if you:
Aren’t feeling better after 10 days
Have an ongoing fever higher than 100.4 degrees
Have serious or unusual symptoms, like chest pain or trouble breathing
Some people may need to talk to their doctor sooner — like people with asthma or people with weakened immune systems (for example, from cancer or HIV).
Doc, make it go away!
All of these patients want antibiotics. But antibiotics don’t treat everything. Read their symptoms and make the call — will antibiotics help them get better?
I’ve got a terrible cold, my nose is all stuffed up, and I can’t sleep — will antibiotics help?
Actually, colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are things that will help, like a soothing saline nasal spray for that runny nose.
And remember, antibiotics could make him feel worse — he could end up with nasty side effects. He probably doesn’t want to add an upset stomach to his list of symptoms!
Actually, colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are things that will help, like a soothing saline nasal spray for that runny nose.
And remember, antibiotics could make him feel worse — he could end up with nasty side effects. He probably doesn’t want to add an upset stomach to his list of symptoms!
That’s right, colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are things that will help, like a soothing saline nasal spray for that runny nose.
In fact, taking antibiotics could make him feel worse — he could end up with nasty side effects. He probably doesn’t want to add an upset stomach to his list of symptoms!
I’ve got a sore throat — will antibiotics help?
Actually, it depends. Antibiotics might help — if she’s got a bacterial infection, like strep throat. She can find out if she has strep throat by getting a test at the doctor’s office.
If her sore throat turns out to be a virus, antibiotics won’t help. Antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are still things she can do to feel better — like drinking warm herbal tea with honey or eating an ice pop.
That’s right! Antibiotics might help — if she’s got a bacterial infection (like strep throat). She can find out if she has strep by getting a test at the doctor’s office.
If her sore throat turns out to be a virus, antibiotics won’t help. Antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are still things she can do to feel better — like drinking warm herbal tea with honey or eating an ice pop.
Actually, it depends! Antibiotics might help — if she’s got a bacterial infection, like strep throat. She can find out if she has strep by getting a test at the doctor’s office.
If her sore throat turns out to be a virus, antibiotics won’t help. Antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are still things she can do to feel better — like drinking warm herbal tea with honey or eating an ice pop.
I’ve got rabbit flu. Or maybe chicken flu? It’s definitely some kind of farm animal flu. Will antibiotics help?
Actually, the flu is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are other things that will help — starting with plenty of water and rest. For people at high risk for complications from the flu, the doctor may also prescribe an antiviral medicine.
Keep in mind that using antibiotics when they’re not needed can create more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or superbugs. That makes it more likely that antibiotics won’t work when we really need them!
Actually, the flu is definitely caused by a virus, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are other things that will help — starting with plenty of water and rest. For people at high risk for complications from the flu, the doctor may also prescribe an antiviral medicine.
Keep in mind that using antibiotics when they’re not needed can create more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or superbugs. That makes it more likely that antibiotics won’t work when we really need them!
That’s right, the flu is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don’t treat viruses. But there are other things that will help — starting with plenty of water and rest. For people at high risk for complications from the flu, the doctor may also prescribe an antiviral medicine.
Keep in mind that using antibiotics when they’re not needed can create more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or superbugs. That makes it more likely that antibiotics won’t work when we really need them!
My teenager is feverish and doesn’t want to eat, but for the first time in her life she wants to take a nap! She tested positive for mono — will antibiotics help?
Actually, mononucleosis is caused by a virus, so antibiotics won’t help. Antibiotics only work on bacteria. But there are other things she can take to feel better, including ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain medicines.
And now’s a good time for her to stay home, get plenty of sleep, and binge on her favorite TV shows until she feels better.
Actually, mononucleosis is always caused by a virus, so antibiotics won’t help. Antibiotics only work on bacteria. But there are other things she can take to feel better, including ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain medicines.
And now’s a good time for her to stay home, get plenty of sleep, and binge on her favorite TV shows until she feels better.
That’s right! Mononucleosis is caused by a virus, so antibiotics won’t help. Antibiotics only work on bacteria. But there are other things she can take to feel better, including ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain medicines.
And now’s a good time for her to stay home, get plenty of sleep, and binge on her favorite TV shows until she feels better.
Oh, the pressure! My teeth hurt, my eye hurts, my whole face hurts — it’s a sinus infection for sure! Will antibiotics help?
Actually, it depends! Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. And antibiotics will only help if it’s a bacterial sinus infection.
His best bet is to see his doctor. That way, he can find out if he needs antibiotics — and, if he does, his doctor can make sure he gets the right one, at the right dose, for the right number of days.
That’s right, it depends! Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. And antibiotics will only help if it’s a bacterial sinus infection.
His best bet is to see his doctor. That way, he can find out if he needs antibiotics — and, if he does, his doctor can make sure he gets the right one, at the right dose, for the right number of days.
Actually, it depends! Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. And antibiotics will only help if it’s a bacterial sinus infection.
His best bet is to see his doctor. That way, he can find out if he needs antibiotics — and, if he does, his doctor can make sure he gets the right one, at the right dose, for the right number of days.
I’ve got a dry, hacking cough and it feels like an elephant kicked me in the chest — it’s probably bronchitis. Please tell me antibiotics will help!
Actually, antibiotics don’t help with bronchitis. That’s because bronchitis is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don’t work on viruses — in fact, they could do him more harm than good.
Antibiotics aren’t picky. They’ll knock out any bacteria, including the good stuff that lives in his gut. He needs those good bacteria to help his body do things like digest food and fight infections.
Actually, antibiotics definitely don’t help with bronchitis. That’s because bronchitis is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don’t work on viruses — in fact, they could do him more harm than good.
Antibiotics aren’t picky. They’ll knock out any bacteria, including the good stuff that lives in his gut. He needs those good bacteria to help his body do things like digest food and fight infections.
That’s right, antibiotics don’t help with bronchitis. That’s because bronchitis is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don’t work on viruses — in fact, they could do him more harm than good.
Antibiotics aren’t picky. They’ll knock out any bacteria, including the good stuff that lives in his gut. He needs those good bacteria to help his body do things like digest food and fight infections.
