Do You
Know?
Most ear infections will heal
on their own.
Only about 15% of people who
go to a doctor with a bad sore
throat have strep throat.
Viruses cause almost all cases
of bronchitis. Antibiotics
don’t kill viruses.
Thick, yellow or green mucus is normal
as your body fights a virus. It
doesn’t mean you need an
antibiotic.
Wash Your Hands
to Prevent Infections
Most germs are spread when you touch
your hands to your mouth, nose and
eyes. Washing your hands often helps
keep germs from entering your body.
Use soap and warm water. You don’t
need antibacterial soaps.
Do you
really need
an antibiotic?
Use Home Remedies
Let your body heal itself. Your immune
system can fight off most infections. It
may take one to two weeks or longer,
but most colds get better on their own.
Many bacterial infections do, too.
Home remedies and over-the-counter
medicines can help relieve viral
symptoms, such as a cough, stuffy or
runny nose, earache, fever or sore
throat.
Colds can last longer than
two weeks.
For more on this and other health issues visit www.tpchd.org
9/2013 • CD-1084-13-21
Taking antibiotics
when you don’t need them
can hurt you
What happens when you
What can you do to
Antibiotics only
antibiotics?
antibiotic resistance?
bacterial infections!
over use
You may develop resistance to the
antibiotic. This means that it may be
harder to find an antibiotic that works
when you really need it.
Overuse of antibiotics creates stronger
germs. Stronger germs are harder to
kill. This can mean longer and more
expensive treatment.
prevent
Take antibiotics only when your
healthcare provider prescribes them.
Antibiotics treat bacterial illnesses such
as strep throat.
Do not try to persuade your healthcare
provider to give you antibiotics when
your provider says they are not needed.
Antibiotics do not treat viral illnesses
such as colds or flu, most bronchitis,
sinus problems or earaches.
Taking an antibiotic will not make a cold
or flu go away any faster and may cause
serious side effects, such as:
You create “super” germs when:
• You take an antibiotic for a cold, flu
or other viral illness.
• You don’t complete the entire
prescription you are given for a
bacterial infection.
• You overuse antibacterial soaps.
treat
If your healthcare provider prescribes
an antibiotic:
• Diarrhea
• Be sure to take the right amount at
the right time each day.
• Rash
• Talk with your healthcare provider
if you think the antibiotic makes
you feel sick. Do NOT stop taking it.
There may be things you can do to
make it easier to take.
• Don’t share your antibiotic with
someone else.
• Take all the antibiotics even if you
feel better.
• Headache
• Vomiting
Taking an antibiotic also may destroy
the good bacteria in your stomach and
weaken your immune system.