Antibiotics Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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What are antibiotics?

Medicines that treat bacterial infections.

Do antibiotics kill bacteria or viruses?

They kill bacteria, not viruses.

Why don't antibiotics work on viruses?

Viruses live and multiply inside body cells, so antibiotics cannot target them without harming our cells.

How do antibiotics help you get better?

They kill the bacteria or stop them from growing, so your immune system can clear the infection.

Why should you finish the whole course of antibiotics?

To make sure all the bacteria are killed and the infection does not come back.

Why shouldn't you take antibiotics for a cold or flu?

Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not work on viruses.

How do doctors decide which antibiotic to use?

They find which bacteria are causing the illness. They then choose an antibiotic known to work on those bacteria. Sometimes they test a sample.

How can antibiotics be taken?

By mouth as tablets or liquid, or by injection for serious infections.

What is the difference between antibiotics and painkillers?

Antibiotics kill bacteria to treat the cause; painkillers only ease symptoms like pain and fever.

What are two safe-use rules for antibiotics?

Only take them if a doctor prescribes them, and never share or use leftover antibiotics.