Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines used to kill bacteria that cause infections.
A doctor will choose an antibiotic to treat an illness
based on:
- Whether taking an antibiotic will reduce the
length or severity of the illness.
- Whether the person is allergic to any
antibiotics.
- How likely it is
that a certain antibiotic will kill the bacteria believed to be causing the
symptoms.
- The
symptoms and the severity of the illness.
- Other medical problems that the person has.
- The person's age. (For example,
some antibiotics are not safe for children.)
- Whether a woman is pregnant.
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