Antibiotics can save lives when used correctly, but they do not work against every infection. Learn when antibiotics may be needed, why self-medication is dangerous and how responsible use protects everyone.

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria. Different antibiotics work against different types of bacteria, so the correct medicine depends on the infection, the patient and sometimes the result of a laboratory test.

Antibiotics do not treat infections caused by viruses. This means they will not cure illnesses such as:

• The common cold
• Influenza
• Most sore throats
• Many coughs
• Most cases of viral diarrhoea
• Measles and other viral infections

Taking an antibiotic for a viral infection will not make recovery faster or prevent the illness from spreading.

Why might a doctor not prescribe antibiotics?

Symptoms such as fever, coughing, a sore throat or tiredness can be caused by many different conditions. A healthcare professional may need to examine you or request a test before deciding whether bacteria are responsible.

Your doctor may recommend rest, fluids or medicines that relieve symptoms rather than an antibiotic. This does not mean that your illness is being ignored. It means the treatment is being matched to the likely cause.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and other disease-causing organisms change and stop responding to medicines that previously worked against them.

Using antibiotics when they are not needed gives bacteria more opportunities to develop resistance. Resistant infections can become more difficult and expensive to treat, require longer hospital stays and increase the risk of severe illness.

The World Health Organization identifies the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines as major causes of resistance. Nigeria’s NCDC also warns that self-medication, inappropriate treatment of viral infections and incorrect antibiotic use make common infections harder to treat.

How to use antibiotics safely

If a qualified healthcare professional prescribes an antibiotic:

• Take it exactly as prescribed.
• Follow the correct dose and timing.
• Do not change or stop the treatment without speaking to the prescriber.
• Do not share the medicine with another person.
• Do not use antibiotics left over from an earlier illness.
• Do not demand an antibiotic if the healthcare professional says it is unnecessary.
• Ask what to do if you miss a dose.
• Report unexpected or serious side effects.

Never buy and use an antibiotic simply because it helped someone with similar symptoms. Two illnesses that appear similar may have different causes.

Why laboratory tests can be important

A healthcare professional may request a sample of blood, urine, sputum or another body fluid. The laboratory may identify the organism causing the infection and determine which medicines are likely to work.

This helps the clinical team select appropriate treatment and avoid unnecessary exposure to antibiotics.

Not every infection requires a laboratory test, but testing is especially valuable when an infection is severe, keeps returning or is not responding to initial treatment.

What about fever?

Fever is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It may be caused by bacterial or viral infections, malaria, inflammatory conditions and other illnesses.

Do not assume that every fever requires an antibiotic. Seek medical assessment, particularly when a fever is severe, persistent or accompanied by other worrying symptoms.

When should you seek urgent medical attention?

Go to an emergency department or seek urgent medical help if an illness is accompanied by:

• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion, fainting or unusual drowsiness
• A seizure
• A stiff neck with severe headache or fever
• Severe dehydration or inability to drink
• Persistent vomiting
• Severe chest or abdominal pain
• Rapid deterioration
• Symptoms in a newborn or very young infant

Protecting antibiotics for the future

Antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections and supporting procedures such as surgery and cancer treatment. Everyone can help preserve their effectiveness by using them only when clinically appropriate.

Good hygiene, safe food preparation, clean water, vaccination and infection-prevention practices also reduce the number of infections that require treatment.

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Medical notice: This article provides general health information and does not replace an examination or advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Do not start, stop or change a prescribed medicine without consulting your healthcare provider.

Sources: World Health Organization—Antimicrobial resistance and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention—Antimicrobial resistance guidance.