Today, more than 100 antibiotics are available for the treatment of several diseases and infections ranging from minor to life-threatening. We all have some experience with regards to antibiotics as most of us casually pop a pill even for cold or coughs. Antibiotics are prescription medications that fight diseases by killing or injuring bacteria. Penicillin was the first antibiotic that was discovered by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming in the year 1928. However, you need to know that antibiotics are effective against infections and can treat only bacterial infections. They are not useful when treating viral infections like common colds and also fungal infections like ringworm.

Facts and Myths:

Myths are usually the outcome of some person’s personal experience, advertising or some article written in the media like internet. Discussed below are some of the common myths and facts linked to antibiotics. The myths surrounding the good and bad properties of antibiotics are abundant. Several people believe that antibiotics are not harmful. However, it is important to understand that antibiotics can actually expose you to a number of health hazards if not taken under the proper supervision.  

• Myth: Antibiotics work faster and doctors not prescribing them are incompetent

Fact: Several people are so fascinated by antibiotics effect that if their doctor does not prescribe them one, they categorize their doctor as incompetent. However, it is essential to understand that antibiotics can treat only bacterial infections and if you have some other trouble, there is no need of antibiotics. Hence, do not force or pressurize your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic unnecessarily.

• Myth: If an antibiotic was not effective previously, it will not help me now as well

Fact: It happens that sometime you might not get relief from a particular dose of antibiotics; however it does not necessarily mean that the same antibiotic will never work for you.  The colonies of bacteria present in an individual’s body change over time and have varied sensitivity and resistance patterns to specific antibiotics.

• Myth: It is fine to have antibiotics even when not really sick

Fact: Many people eat antibiotics casually even when they are not really sick. Remember, whenever you have any drug you are exposing yourself to a number of side effects. Also, if you are taking a pill that is prescribed to your friend to treat yourself you are exposing yourself to severe side effects.

• Myth: It is fine to stop the intake of antibiotics once you feel better

Fact: This is a common practice, as soon as you feel a bit better, you stop taking antibiotics. However, this myth is totally untrue. If you do not complete the antibiotic course prescribed by your doctor, you may feel better in the short term but in the long term you are likely to face more serious infection. This is because the antibiotic treatment taken in the first few days might kill 99% of bacteria. But, the remaining 1% may prove to be dangerous as it will keep on multiplying. Hence, the next time, the same antibiotic may not be effective to treat the same disease.

• Myth: Antibiotics undermines a person’s immune system

Fact: This is not true and antibiotics do not actually weaken an individual’s immune system.