Call it a bug, call it an infection, or call it feeling really, really sick. Maybe - maybe not, and you should know why. Bugs come in many forms, most commonly bacteria and viruses. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but do not treat viruses.
Antibiotics are among the most powerful and important medicines available.
They are used to treat bacterial infections ranging from life-threatening meningitis to common problems like acne and strep throat. But, because antibiotics are not always used appropriately, bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment - and that's a problem for all of us. Widespread use of antibiotics has cured sickness caused by some bacteria, but new varieties of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are evolving. When antibiotics are used inappropriately, the weak bacteria are killed, but the stronger, more resistant ones survive and multiply. These resistant bacteria can cause infections that are more difficult to treat, which means antibiotics won't be as effective when lives truly depend on them.