B3 - Antibiotics

What are antibiotics used to treat?

Bacterial infections.

How do antibiotics work?

They kill bacteria inside the human body without harming body cells.

Can antibiotics kill viruses?

No, antibiotics cannot kill viruses.

Why can't antibiotics kill viruses?

Viruses live and reproduce inside human cells, making them hard to target without damaging body tissues.

What was the first antibiotic discovered?

Penicillin.

When was penicillin discovered?

Around the 1940s.

How did penicillin change medicine?

It made many previously fatal bacterial diseases treatable.

What is antibiotic resistance?

When bacteria evolve so they are no longer killed by a specific antibiotic.

What causes antibiotic resistance?

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Why is antibiotic resistance a problem?

It makes bacterial diseases harder or even impossible to treat.

How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?

Through natural selection—resistant bacteria survive and reproduce.

Why must specific antibiotics be used?

Different antibiotics are effective against different types of bacteria.

Why are doctors careful when prescribing antibiotics?

To reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance developing.

Why won't doctors give antibiotics for a sore throat caused by a virus?

Because antibiotics do not kill viruses.

What is the role of painkillers?

To treat the symptoms of disease by relieving pain.

Do painkillers kill pathogens?

No, painkillers only relieve symptoms—they do not treat the cause.

Why is it difficult to develop drugs that kill viruses?

Because viruses reproduce inside human cells, and destroying them can also damage the body's tissues.

Can antibiotic resistance spread?

Yes, resistant bacteria can spread between people, making infections harder to treat in the population.

How can we reduce antibiotic resistance?

By only using antibiotics when necessary and completing the full course.

What type of pathogen do antibiotics kill?

Bacteria only.

Why is completing an antibiotic course important?

To ensure all bacteria are killed and reduce the chance of resistance developing.

Why is antibiotic resistance more common today?

Due to overprescription and misuse of antibiotics over time.

Should antibiotics be used to treat flu?

No, because flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria.

What do painkillers and antibiotics have in common?

They are both medicines but have different functions—painkillers relieve symptoms, antibiotics treat infections.