It’s a scenario we’ve all seen: someone has a common cold or flu, visits a clinic, and walks out with antibiotics “just in case.”
Here’s the problem: antibiotics do NOT work against viruses. Cold, flu, and most sore throats are viral — not bacterial. Yet, prescribing antibiotics in these cases has become a habitual, sometimes careless, practice.
Why This Matters ?
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Unnecessary antibiotic use trains bacteria to survive, making future infections harder to treat.
- Side Effects: Antibiotics can cause diarrhea, allergic reactions, and other adverse effects, adding harm without benefit.
- Healthcare Costs: Unneeded medications increase out-of-pocket expenses and strain healthcare resources.
The Bigger Picture
The World Health Organization calls AMR a “global health crisis”. Every time antibiotics are misused for viral illnesses, we move closer to a world where even routine infections could become deadly.
What Can Be Done : -
Educate patients: not every fever needs antibiotics.
Follow evidence-based prescribing guidelines.
Promote vaccines and preventive care to reduce infections.
In short: Using antibiotics for viral fever may seem harmless, but it’s fueling a slow, silent war against medicine itself.
MBH/PS