Why do I need antibiotics sometimes and not others?

“Ah-Choo!”, I caught a bug again. That feeling of a sore throat and sneezing comes to pay a visit every now and then. Sometimes it comes with a temperature, others it’s just a feeling that my body is so heavy and tired. My parents usually try a mix of natural remedies - an orange juice boost, some honey or even what we Chinese call ‘cooling’ food items.

If the bug doesn’t go away after a few days, I usually pay a visit to my doctor. Most times, the doctor will say I need to take some medicine for my running nose and sore throat, but other times he’ll give me something that taste as yucky as the name sounds - antibiotics. Why sometimes and not others?

Antibiotics means something that kill a living thing. Apparently there are 2 things that cause the painful throat and running nose - one is called a virus, which is sort of like something ‘dirty’ that causes our body to react badly to get rid of it; and the other one is called a bacteria, which is pest that tries to live off our bodies and grow. The difference between the two is that a bacteria is alive and a virus is not, and you guessed it - a bacteria needs antibiotics to kill it!

The way we catch either is similar, through touch. Many times its touching an object that has the bug and then we rub our eyes, noses or even eat when we use our hands to put food into our mouths. The signs are the same too - painful throat, running nose. That’s why it is the doctor’s job to help guess if it is a bacteria or virus.

That’s why during the Covid period, the adults tell me to wash my hands regularly. Stay safe!