If your Television is not working, would you call a plumber? Probably not, since plumbers do not fix TVs – unless, there is a rare water leakage that is causing water to seep into your TV.
A puzzled plumber attempts to fix a TV (Image credit: Created with Meta AI)
Similarly, when you have a viral infection, should you take antibiotics to treat it? No, as antibiotics are only useful for bacterial infections.When you have symptoms such as cough, runny nose or sore throat, they are usually caused by viruses. Only a small percentage of these cases are caused by bacteria. How can you tell? You will need a doctor to assess you. Through checking your history (asking some questions) and examining you, they can look for signs and symptoms of bacterial infection. However, most of the time, symptoms are caused by a viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI). In fact, our bodies naturally contain some "good bacteria" that coexist with us and aid in some of our body functions. For example, we have Escherichia coli bacteria in our intestines that help with digestion, Staphylococcus aureus on our skin, Streptococcus viridans in our mouths and more. The different "good bacteria" in our bodies help to balance out the harmful bacteria. However, taking antibiotics unnecessarily can disrupt this balance. So what happens when you take antibiotics when there is a viral infection? It will not be effective and can even cause harm.
- Firstly, if you are allergic to the antibiotic, you may develop symptoms ranging from swollen eyes, rashes, breathing difficulty and giddiness, to serious anaphylaxis that may be fatal. You are taking unnecessary risks as antibiotics are not helpful to treat viral infection.
- Next, there are many side effects linked to antibiotics, among which nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal bloatedness and loss of appetite are the most common. The misuse of antibiotics does not heal you faster, instead it can make you feel worse.
- In the long run, repeated use of antibiotics unnecessarily may lead to antibiotic resistance. So when you subsequently want to tackle a bacterial infection with antibiotics, it may not be useful anymore.
- Lastly, taking antibiotics involve higher cost and commitment to complete the course of medication. Please do so only when your doctor prescribes it. Otherwise, save the money and spend your time resting instead.
Here are some things you should note about the appropriate use of antibiotics.
- Do not consume antibiotics on your own without consulting a doctor.
- Do not share left-over antibiotics with your loved ones. Ask them to see a doctor instead.
- Always consume antibiotics only when instructed by your doctor. Do not adjust the dose, frequency or duration of the antibiotics yourself.
- Seek clarification from your doctor if needed. Green phlegm and coughing through the night do not necessarily mean it is a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics.
So the next time your doctor says you have a viral infection and that antibiotics are not necessary, remember to thank your doctor as they are looking out for you.
This article was contributed by Patient Education Workgroup, with inputs from:- Dr Peter Moey, Deputy Director, Clinical Services, SingHealth Polyclinics
- Dr Ng Chung Wai, Senior Consultant, Clinical Lead for Infection Prevention and Infectious Disease (IPID) Committee, SingHealth Polyclinics
- Dr Sally Ho, Senior Consultant, SingHealth Polyclinics
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