Saniya claims to her friend Vinita that 'Antibiotics can cure any infection, so we don't need to worry about diseases.' What question(s) can Vinita ask her to help Saniya understand that her statement is incorrect?
Vinita can ask Saniya the following questions to challenge her claim.
'Do antibiotics work against viral infections like the common cold or flu?' 'If antibiotics only kill bacteria, how can they cure diseases caused by viruses or protozoa?'
'What happens if we take antibiotics unnecessarily?' 'Have you heard of antibiotic resistance and why it is becoming a serious health problem?'
These questions help Saniya understand that antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections, not viral or other infections, and their misuse can lead to antibiotic resistance.
Explanation
The chapter clearly states that antibiotics work only against bacterial infections because they target parts of bacterial cells that are different from human or other animal cells. They do not work against viruses or diseases caused by protozoa. The chapter also discusses antibiotic resistance, where bacteria that were earlier killed by a given antibiotic survive and multiply despite treatment.
Solution Steps
Antibiotics work only against bacterial infections, not viral or protozoan infections
Common viral infections like cold and flu cannot be cured by antibiotics
Taking antibiotics unnecessarily can lead to serious consequences
Antibiotic resistance is a serious health problem caused by misuse of antibiotics