Have you ever noticed that when we are diagnosed with a viral infection or the flu, doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics? It’s a very common experience, and most of us simply take the medicine without thinking much about it. But if antibiotics don’t work on viruses, why are they prescribed during viral infections?
Antibiotics are medicines generally prescribed to treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by either killing bacteria or preventing them from growing and multiplying in the body. However, antibiotics do not work against viruses because bacteria and viruses are completely different types of organisms.
Viral infections or the flu are caused by viruses that mainly affect the respiratory system. They spread from person to person. People diagnosed with a viral infection commonly experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, and fatigue.
When someone is experiencing the flu, the immune system may become temporarily weakened, making the body more prone to bacterial infections. To prevent or treat these possible secondary bacterial infections, doctors may sometimes prescribe antibiotics.
Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed even before a bacterial infection is confirmed. While this may help prevent complications, excessive or unnecessary use of antibiotics can lead to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Have you ever noticed this before? Have you ever been prescribed antibiotics for the flu?
MBH/PS