Should You Take Antibiotics for a Cold? You Need to Know This Scary Truth!

Do you also have the habit of going to the pharmacy and asking for an antibiotic like Amoxicillin when you have a cold or a sore throat? Or do you insist when you go to see a doctor, "Doctor, prescribe me an antibiotic, or this won't go away"? Actually, this is something that many people in our country do out of ignorance. But the damage that this seemingly small mistake can cause to you, your family, and the entire society is not small. So today, let's talk about this in detail.

Why don't antibiotics work for colds and flu?

To understand this, we first need to know about the two main types of enemies that cause disease. They are bacteria and viruses . These two are two different things. The way they work and behave is completely different.

• Bacteria : These are single-celled organisms. They can reproduce and spread on their own inside our bodies. These bacteria cause many diseases, such as throat infections (some types), urinary tract infections , and skin infections .
• Viruses: These are much smaller than bacteria. They cannot live on their own or reproduce. They invade a cell in our body and use that cell to reproduce their own kind. Viruses cause diseases like the common cold , flu, dengue, and COVID-19.

Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria only . It's like trying to kill cockroaches with a drug designed to kill mosquitoes. It doesn't work. Antibiotics can't recognize viruses or harm them.

The most dangerous thing that happens when you take antibiotics to "get well soon"

"It's okay, I'll just drink it and see," you might think. But that's where the biggest danger lies. We call it antibiotic resistance . Simply put, it's the way bacteria become stronger and more resistant to drugs. Think about it this way. There are also some harmless bacteria in your body that just happen to be there. When you take an antibiotic for a viral infection, the drug goes and has a "practice fight" with those harmless bacteria. After this fight, the bacteria that are trying to save your life get 'used to' the drug. They learn how to resist the drug, just like learning the enemy's tactics. What happens now? If one day you get a really bad bacterial infection , the doctor gives you that antibiotic you used before, but it won't work. Because the bacteria in your body are already used to it and know how to fight it off. Then:

• Your illness is not getting better, it is getting worse day by day.
• The doctor has to give much stronger, more expensive antibiotics.
• You may need to be hospitalized and even given intravenous medication.
• The most dangerous thing is that sometimes no antibiotics work, and even life can be lost.

This doesn't just affect you. These "superbugs" that develop in your body can be passed on to your family, friends, and others in your community, making it difficult for them to take the medication.

So what are the real treatments for the flu?

Since the flu is a viral infection, there is a type of medicine called antiviral . These stop the virus from multiplying in our bodies, which means they stop it from multiplying. This reduces the severity of the illness and the duration of the illness. But remember, the first line of defense against the flu is the annual flu vaccine . Antiviral drugs are only a second line of defense. These antiviral drugs are most effective if taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms . Therefore, it is very important to seek medical advice as soon as flu symptoms appear. Below are some antiviral drugs recommended by the CDC. Never use these without a doctor's prescription.

Are there any side effects to this medicine?

Yes. There may be side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anxiety. Therefore, before using any of these medications, talk to your doctor about them and their side effects.

How can we escape this dangerous threat?

There is a very simple way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this threat of antibiotic resistance. That is to respect antibiotics and use them only for essential bacterial infections, as prescribed by a doctor .

• When you go to see a doctor, don't ask for antibiotics. Let the doctor figure out exactly what the illness is. Understand that if it's a virus, antibiotics won't help.
• If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, take the prescribed dose, at the prescribed time, and for the full number of days prescribed. Don't stop taking the medication just because it's gone away in a couple of days. If you do, the remaining bacteria in your body will develop resistance to the medication.
• Never give antibiotics prescribed for you to someone else , and never use other people's leftover medication.
• Try to stay away from getting sick. The best way to do that is to get a flu vaccine every year and wash your hands well with soap and water regularly.

Antibiotic, antibiotic, cold, flu, virus, bacteria, antibiotic resistance, antiviral, flu medicine