BUST THAT MYTH ‘Antibiotics kill viruses’

Antibiotics, by their very definition, kill bacteria. Colds are caused by viruses, and no antibiotic in the world can fight one. They only treat an infection brought on by bacteria.

It might not seem like you’re doing any harm if you take a medicine even though it doesn’t treat your cold, but it can. When people take antibiotics when they don’t have to, over time, the medicine becomes less effective.

The reason has to do with the bacteria themselves. When they come repeatedly into contact with antibiotics, they may mutate in order to survive. These new strains become resistant to some types of antibiotics. If you get an infection caused by one of these mutated bacteria, your doctor may need to try several types of drugs until one is found that can bring you back to health.