Alka was absent for many days. On being asked by her teacher, she said that she was on antibiotics and so she could not attend school. She needed to take her doses very regularly and on time as she was suffering from cough.(a) What are antibiotics?(b) Name the first antibiotic to be discovered. Who discovered it?(c) Why are they used?(d) Do you think one should always take antibiotics to cure diseases?
Answers
a) An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria and is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections.
b) Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic which was a penicillin.
c) Antibiotics are medications used to fight infections caused by bacteria. They're also called antibacterials. They treat infections by killing or decreasing the growth of bacteria.
d) Antibiotics are strong medicines that treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics won't treat viral infections because they can't kill viruses. You'll get better when the viral infection has run its course. It's Harmful to Overuse Them. Taking antibiotics for colds and other viral illnesses not only won't work, but it can also have dangerous side effects — over time, this practice actually helps create bacteria that are harder to kill.