Antibiotics are powerful medicines that treat many kinds of infections caused by bacteria (bacterial diseases). They can also prevent some serious complications from surgery and other treatments. But overuse and improper use of antibiotics can cause problems, such as diarrhea and resistance to antibiotics. This is one of the world’s most urgent health problems.
All antibiotics work by blocking or stopping the growth of bacteria that cause disease. Some work against a wide range of bacteria, called broad-spectrum antibiotics. Others target a specific kind of bacteria, called narrow-spectrum antibiotics. Some are produced in a lab, and some are made by natural processes or by chemical reactions.
People often think that they or their children will become resistant to antibiotics if they take them unnecessarily. But actually, it’s the bacteria that become resistant to the medicines. When doctors and families give antibiotics to themselves or their children when they don’t need them, it promotes the development of medicine-resistant bacteria. These bacteria can then infect people who haven’t taken antibiotics.
Many illnesses that send people to their doctor or hospital — like a cough, sore throat, cold, or flu — are caused by viruses and not bacteria. Taking antibiotics for viral infections or mild bacterial infections that would go away on their own can lead to unpleasant side effects, and it will also help promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Always follow your doctor’s instructions for how to take antibiotics. Never save antibiotics for later use, as this can lead to the wrong dose and can cause dangerous side effects.