THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS REMINDING THAT YOU DON’T ALWAYS NEED ANTIBIOTICS WHEN YOU ARE SICK.
IT OFTEN MAKES US FEEL BETTER WHEN A DOCTOR PRESCRIBES AN ANTIBIOTIC…BUT THEY AREN’T ALWAYS NECESSARY. PUBLIC HEALTH SPOKESPERSON MELANEY ARNOLD SAYS OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS CAN BE DANGEROUS…AS BACTERIA BECOME MORE RESISTANT.
SHE NOTES THAT ANTIBIOTICS CANNOT CURE VIRAL INFECTIONS SUCH AS THE COMMON COLD, FLU AND MOST SORE THROATS AND COUGHS.
ARNOLD SAYS IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGULAR COLD AND A BACTERIAL INFECTION. SOME SIGNS INCLUDE SYMPTOMS LASTING LONGER THAN 10 DAYS WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT AND SEVERE OR UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS.