Many times people visit the doctor requesting antibiotics to treat colds and viral infections. How is the doctor justified in offering the patient treatment options that do not include antibiotics for these cases?Group of answer choicesIf a doctor provides an antibiotic to treat colds and viruses, any bacteria in the patient's body will be killed, but a few will survive. Those few survivors may become resistant to antibiotics needed for real bacterial illnesses.Colds and viruses should be first treated with viral therapies and then when the body begins to recover, antibiotics can be used. Otherwise, the use of antibiotics is not effective at all.Antibiotics can weaken the immune system when used for colds and viruses, whereas other medications are not so hard on the immune system during these types of illnesses.Side effects from antibiotics are severe when used for colds and viruses. Any use of antibiotics for colds and viruses will only make the patient more ill and ultimately make the patient's recovery time longer.

Doctors are justified in not prescribing antibiotics for colds and viral infections for several reasons.

Firstly, antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, not viruses. If a doctor prescribes an antibiotic to treat a cold or virus, it will kill many bacteria in the patient's body, but some will survive. These survivors may become resistant to antibiotics, which could be problematic if the patient later contracts a bacterial illness.

Secondly, colds and viruses should ideally be treated with antiviral therapies first. Once the body begins to recover, antibiotics could potentially be used if a secondary bacterial infection occurs. However, using antibiotics as a first line of treatment for a viral infection is generally not effective.

Thirdly, antibiotics can potentially weaken the immune system when used for viral infections. Other medications, such as antivirals, are not as hard on the immune system and are therefore often a better choice for treating these types of illnesses.

Lastly, the side effects from antibiotics can be severe, especially when used for viral infections. Using antibiotics for colds and viruses could potentially make the patient more ill and prolong their recovery time. Therefore, it is often in the patient's best interest to explore other treatment options.