Antibiotics: When They’re Needed and When They’re Not
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
10 March, 2025
Antibiotics were first discovered in 1928, by Alexander Fleming and the first one we learnt of was penicillin. Fast forward almost a century later and antibiotics are being used to treat all kinds of conditions – severe or not. Antibiotics are our first line of defense when it comes to dealing with bacterial infections. But, when they are used to treat other conditions, a few things can happen- firstly, you will most probably have to deal with side effects which are just unpleasant. The next and most important thing is antibiotic resistance.
When Should You Take Antibiotics For An Infection?
You should take antibiotics only if you have bacterial infections like UTIs, strep throat, whooping cough etc. You should NOT take them when you have the flu or any viral infection. Antibiotics need to be taken for a certain amount of time, in fixed doses for them to work best. If you take too much or abandon them in between, then both situations can lead to antibiotic resistant strains growing in your body. This may make your infection worse or cause a new issue altogether.
Resistance is what happens if you take antibiotics when not needed- this means some bacteria will continue to grow and reproduce in the presence of the antibiotics, leading to the formation of resistant strains which cannot be cured with that specific antibiotic. Overuse of antibiotics in the present means that in the future, when you have to take them, they will not work for you and be impotent.
Why Antibiotics Don’t Work For Common Colds-
Antibiotics are of different kinds- broad spectrum and narrow spectrum respectively. They may work against multiple kinds of organisms or may be very specific to just a few of them. However, as mentioned before, antibiotics are useless when you deal with viral infections and common colds and flus are caused mostly by viruses of various kinds.
Signs An Infection Needs Antibiotics To Heal-
We have told you when not to take antibiotics. Hence it makes sense for you to understand when taking antibiotics is a good idea-
- When you have an infection of a wound and it feels warm, red and begins to smell bad
- When you have a fever that does not go away
- When you have a stiff neck and a sore throat
- When you have a UTI
- If there is any itching or irritation on your skin
How Long Should You Take Antibiotics And Why It Matters-
Antibiotics are normally given at a specific dosage based on age group and body weight and they need to be taken properly for a duration of at least 3 days or longer, as prescribed by the doctor. You should never stop taking them when you notice your symptoms getting better. This can lead to antibiotic resistant strains growing in place of the normal ones and your symptoms may just get worse than before. This way, you can be sure that your infection will also get resolved completely.
Conclusion
Antibiotics are very useful drugs but in the recent decades have been abused for this very reason. The unnecessary use of antibiotics was especially high during the COVID years, as they were thought to be preventive in nature. A few years down the line though, resistant strains which don’t go away even with potent antibiotic usage have begun to form. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is one such dreaded infection which takes lives every year. It is hence important to never overuse antibiotics, nor underutilize them. India has a huge problem in this area and the government is working actively to prevent this going forward.
