0
Virus develop a resistant coat outside the covering of their cell preventing any antibiotic from damaging them. Hence there is no effect on them.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAntibiotics (such as penicillin) work by effecting the bacteria's cell wall. Viruses are very different. They do not have cell walls and just don't have the same structure as bacteria.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What Are effective at treating strep throat but not at treating colds?
Antibiotics - because a cold is a virus caused disease and antibiotics have no effect on a virus. However strep throat is caused by a bacterium and antibiotics do kill bacteria.
Can polio be treat with antibiotics and why?
NO! poliomyelitis is caused by a virus (poliovirus). antibiotics are only effective against bacteria. *A doctor may prescribe antibiotics as supportive care but the antibiotics are not treating the polio directly.
Why are antibiotics ineffective in treating viral infections?
Antibiotics are ineffective (while not always) in treating viral (virus) infections because of how the medications take effect. Antibiotics work by changing the body's PH to kill off bacteria. Virus's have to have a host to live and therefore can adapt to the changed in the body. So successfully kill viruses, one has to destroy the DNA within it.
What substances used for treating diseases?
Depends on the type of disease, antivirals for a virus, antibiotics etc and your own immune system (Antibodies)
Can antibiotics treat virus?
Antibiotics won't treat a virus.
What would you not use in treating a virus?
Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, only against bacteria. Antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu are effective against most forms of H1N1 and many other flu viruses
Why does doctors still prescribe antibiotics for a flu infection?
You cannot. Antibiotics are only for treating or preventing bacterial infections. Since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics have no effect and have been shown time and again to make no difference on the duration or severity of a viral infection (Influenza is a virus). There are antiviral medications but usually the best therapy is time.
What is adverse effect of using antibiotics in treating flu?
Antibiotics will not help when you have flu because antibiotics only kill bacteria and influenza is caused by a virus, you would only end up with the side effec ts from taking medication you don't need when you are already unwell.
Is amoxicillin good for flu?
No, swine flu is a virus and amoxicillin is an antibiotic which means it only fights bacteria. The effects of Swine flu can lead to infections that may or may not require the use of an antibiotic like amoxilin. However the amoxilin does not fight the Swine flu virus it fights the infection that is caused by the original presence of the virus. Your immune system takes care of the virus.
Why don't you treat a virus with antibiotics?
antibiotics are only affective against bacteria, and a virus is different then bacteria
Are antibiotics effective to shorten the duration of a cold or flu?
No, antibiotics are not the right medication for a cold. Antibiotics are for treating bacterial infections. The common cold is caused by a virus, not bacteria, and will not be affected by antibiotics. There may be a situation where a doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a secondary bacterial infection after a cold or flu, but the cold itself can not be treated with antibiotics...it is a waste of money to use them for a cold and is also an unnecessary risk of adverse reactions or allergies to the antibiotics.
Why cant you use antibiotics to kill virus but bacteria can be killed by antibiotics?
Because bacteria and viruses are two completely different things. Antibiotics - as their name implies - will kill bacteria, but antibiotics simply have no effect on viruses.
