Antibiotics do not treat viral infections

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Antibiotics do not treat viral infections

Because antibiotics do not fight viruses such as flu or COVID-19. Antibiotics are used to prevent or treat bacterial infections. When used inappropriately, antibiotics may lose their long term effectiveness, causing future bacterial infections to be worse and last longer.

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Health Promotion Board

Antibiotics are used to prevent or treat bacterial infections only. They DO NOT work on viral infections such as flu or the common cold.

Check with your doctor to ensure you only take antibiotics for the right reasons and at the right time.

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When are antibiotics required?

NO

YES

NO

NO
YES

YES

Common side effects of antibiotics

The common side effects of antibiotics include the following:

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

Bloating

Loss of appetite

Rashes

When your doctor prescribes antibiotics to treat your infection, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Consequences of antibiotics misuse

Overuse or misuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance. This reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating infections when they are really needed. This can lead to undesirable consequences as illustrated below:

If left unchecked, it is projected that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could cause as many as 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050 - which is higher than death attributed to diabetes (1.5 million) and cancer (8.2 million).

Antibiotic resistance prevention

DOs

If prescribed, take antibiotics exactly as per your doctor's advice

Ensure you and your family receive timely vaccinations to prevent infections

Adopt a healthy lifestyle and practice good hygiene

DON'Ts

Do not insist on antibiotics from your doctor

Do not take antibiotics for a viral infection like this common cold or flu

Do not save antibiotics for the next time you get sick. Discard all leftover antibiotics

Let's all play our part to prevent antibiotics resistance together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need antibiotics if my phlegm is green?

Having green phlegm is not always a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics to get better. More white blood cells are produced in our body during infections which can be caused by viruses or bacteria. When large amounts of white blood cells are present in your phlegm, it may appear green.

Therefore, coloured phlegm does not mean you need antibiotics.

Do I recover faster from the flu when I take antibiotics?

Antibiotics DO NOT work on viruses and do not speed up recovery from viral infections. Common misuse of antibiotics include using them for viral infections such as flu or the common cold.

Taking antibiotics unnecessarily can lead to antibiotic resistance.

How do I know if I’m suffering from a viral or bacterial infection?

Symptoms of bacterial and viral infections can be similar for upper respiratory tract infections. Differentiating between the two requires medical assessment and you should consult your doctor for the treatment you need.

Do I need antibiotics if my phlegm is green?

Having green phlegm is not always a sign of a bacteria infection that requires antibiotics to get better. More white blood cells are produced in our body during infections which can be caused by viruses or bacteria. When large amounts of white blood cells are present in your phlegm, it may appear green.

Therefore, coloured phlegm does not mean you need antibiotics.

Resources

Help your loved ones or someone understand the importance of appropriate antibiotics usage by sharing the resources below.

Download brochure

Download poster

Misuse of antibiotics can lead to antimicrobial resistance. Learn how you can protect yourself and your loved ones against it here.

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Health Promotion Board

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Antibiotics do not treat viral infections