Dev has a cold, and asks his mother for an antibiotic left over from last year…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Dev has a cold, and asks his mother for an antibiotic left over from last year. Explain why this will not help, and say what Dev should do instead.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Treatment can ease the symptoms or kill the cause. Antibiotics block steps that bacteria need, such as building a cell wall, and do not work on viruses. Resistant bacteria survive an unfinished course and multiply. Prevention uses general ways, such as clean water and no stagnant water, and the specific way of immunisation.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The cause. A cold is caused by a virus.
Step 2. The medicine. Antibiotics block steps that bacteria need, such as building a cell wall. A virus has no such steps, so the antibiotic does nothing.
Step 3. The harm. Taking an antibiotic without need can also help resistant bacteria in the body to survive.
Answer: Dev should rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat well. His body will fight the virus. He should see a doctor if he gets worse.
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