what is the antibiotics? why antibiotic not effected against common cold and flu?
Answers
An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria and is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections.
Common cold is caused by a pathogen called as virus.
Virus is a non-living substance when present in the external environment. Virus becomes active when it enters the host cell. As it has only genetic material and a protein coat, it has to depend on host cell machinery for replication. In this way it overtakes the host cell apparatus.
Anti viral drugs should target exactly the virus. But since viral particle lives inside the host and gets integrated into the host cell, application of antiviral therapy through drugs is very tough. Anti viral drugs may also kill the host cell also. This is the reason why it is antibiotics have no effect on common cold.
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics don't work against infections caused by viruses, such as colds and flu.