Taking antibiotics for colds and flu? There’s no point.

What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics don’t work against infections caused by viruses, such as colds and flu. So there’s no point taking antibiotics to treat a cold or flu, and no point asking your doctor to prescribe them for a cold or flu. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them, like for a cold or flu, is a waste. It can also mean that they won’t work when you really need them for a serious infection. This is called antibiotic resistance and it happens when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics and learn to resist them. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed also puts you at risk of side effects, like a rash, upset stomach or diarrhoea.