What does antibiotic treatment treat?

An antibiotic either kills certain bacteria or stops them multiplying, allowing the body to clear the infection. A clinician chooses the medicine, dose and route according to the suspected bacteria, infection site, allergies and other health factors. Examples of conditions that may need antibiotic treatment include cellulitis, chlamydia, brucellosis and amoebiasis when the prescribed medicine is appropriate.

A cough, sore throat, earache or red eye can have several causes. Acute bronchitis is often viral, and some conjunctivitis is also viral, so an antibiotic may not help. Taking an antibiotic for an illness it cannot treat may cause side effects and make future infections harder to manage.

Take the medicine exactly as prescribed and do not share leftover tablets with another person. Check whether it should be taken with food, and ask what to do if you miss a dose or develop diarrhoea, rash or vomiting. Do not stop, extend or restart treatment without advice, because the correct plan depends on the infection and medicine.

Seek urgent help for facial or throat swelling, trouble breathing, collapse or a rapidly spreading rash after an antibiotic. Contact a clinician for severe or persistent diarrhoea, worsening pain, fever or symptoms that are not improving as expected. An earache or red eye with vision changes also needs prompt assessment.

Ask whether the illness is likely bacterial, what improvement to expect, how to take each dose, and which side effects require action. Tell the clinician about medication allergies, pregnancy, kidney problems and recent antibiotic use.