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Get smart before using antibiotics

Posted on October 03, 2008

True or false? Taking antibiotics can help cure the common cold, flu or bronchitis.False. All of the above are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not help fight viruses. In fact, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good.How? Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Taking antibiotics when you don't need them or not as prescribed (which means taking all of your medicine even if you feel better) increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment. Yet, each year, health care providers in the United States prescribe tens of millions of ...

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antibiotic resistance , common cold , flu , flu shot