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