Question 9
What are antibiotics? What precautions must be taken while taking antibiotics?
Antibiotics (also known as antibacterials) are medicines produced by certain microorganisms to kill other disease-causing microorganisms.They can save lives by fighting bacterial infections.They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Precautions to be taken while using antibiotics are:
i. Antibiotics should be taken under the supervision of a well-qualified doctor.
ii. Course (intake) of antibiotics should be completed as prescribed by the doctor.
iii. Antibiotics should be taken in the right amount and at the right time. A wrong dose of antibiotics makes the drug ineffective. Also, excessive consumption of drugs may kill the useful bacteria present in our body.