It is not always easy to figure out if you need antibiotics when you are sick; even doctors have a hard time telling the difference. Here are the common myths associated with antibiotic use.
Virus vs. Bacteria
Antibiotics are solely used in treating bacterial infections. Antibiotics do not help, or cure, nor prevent viral infections. It is often difficult to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections because they share many symptoms but they are fundamentally different. Bacteria are 10-100 times larger than viruses, grow on about anything and have mostly beneficial roles in humans. In fact, ninety-nine percent of all bacteria are good such as Lactobacillus in the intestines which help us digest food. On the other hand, viruses are smaller, need a living host to survive and are mostly harmful.
Myth #1: Antibiotics are used for treatment of colds and flu.
Fact: All colds and the flu are caused by viruses (not bacteria) so antibiotics will not work. In fact, using antibiotics for viral infections leads to drug resistance which means some antibiotics will stop being effective. We are already seeing this with penicillin. Infections that were previously successfully treated with penicillin are now developing resistance. This means that stronger antibiotics are needed for the simplest of infections.
Myth #2: A bad cough always requires antibiotics.
Fact: Even if you have an awful sounding cough, do not pick up antibiotics without consulting your doctor. All respiratory infections cause cough and the severity does not indicate whether it is viral or bacterial. The cough is the last symptom to disappear in colds and flu, often taking 2 weeks to resolve on its own.
Myth #3: A sore throat always requires antibiotics.
Fact: People mistakenly believe a sore throat justifies an antibiotic. The majority of sore throats are caused by viruses. Only 35% of sore throats in children and 10% in adults require antibiotics due to Streptococcus bacteria which can only be detected by a laboratory throat test to determine if bacteria is present or not.
Myth #4: A high fever always requires antibiotics.
Fact: Any foreign body such as viruses and bacteria can trigger a fever and does not automatically warrant antibiotics. Fevers are a tool used by our body to get rid of the microbes causing disease, and does not signify whether the microbe is bacterial or viral.
Myth #5: Antibiotics will help me get better faster.
Fact: Taking antibiotics for colds and flu will not get rid of bothersome symptoms faster. These illnesses just need to take their toll and expect that colds can make you feel bad for a few days, while the flu can make you feel quite ill for weeks. Antibiotics will not lessen cold or flu symptoms and should not be taken on a “just in case” basis.
Myth #6: Antibiotics help the immune system fight colds and flu.
Fact: Some people wrongly assume that if they take antibiotics for a cold or flu, antibiotics would help their immune system fight the virus. Antibiotics do not strengthen the immune system, they only kill bacteria. The problem occurs when somebody takes an antibiotic and it does not help, they often switch to a stronger antibiotic and get better. They attribute the last antibiotic as successful when instead the immune system did all the work and the virus just ran its course.
Myth #7: Doctors who refuse to give antibiotics are incompetent.
Fact: It is an unfortunate social practice that patients demand antibiotics and do not feel satisfied without one. If your doctor feels an antibiotic is unnecessary, do not pressure him/her in prescribing one; chances are it is a virus and the doctor is saving you the headache of developing drug resistance in the future.
Myth #8: There is no harm in taking antibiotics.
Fact: Giving antibiotics in the absence of invading bacteria is like sending your troops to a battlefield and not finding the enemy so the antibiotic shoots aimlessly killing the good bacteria in your body. Not to mention unnecessary exposure to a list of side effects such as rash, diarrhea and yeast infections. An even more worrisome effect is the emergence of drug resistance. That’s why the World Health Organization has adopted a global awareness campaign to stop the misuse of antibiotics and halt the spread of drug resistance.
Myth #9: Antibiotics will always win the battle against bacteria.
Fact: Not always! Some antibiotics will stop working because drug companies can’t invent antibiotics quickly enough because bacteria are getting smarter much quicker due to overuse and misuse. There is no doubt antibiotics are life-savers when used correctly, but they should be only used for bacterial infections to avoid drug resistance.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee antibiotics will save you in the long-term if you are repeatedly taking them for viral infections. Let’s work together on keeping antibiotics working!
