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Antibiotics and Their Treatment
- Sometimes the immune system cannot stop a disease alone.
- Then we fall ill and need to visit a doctor.
- The doctor may give medicines called antibiotics.
- Antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause the disease.
- They do not work against viruses or protozoa.
Example 1 — Treating Typhoid
- Typhoid is caused by bacteria.
- The doctor gives antibiotics to kill them.
- So antibiotics work against this bacterial disease.
Example 2 — A Common Cold
- A cold is caused by a virus.
- Antibiotics cannot kill viruses.
- So antibiotics do not help a cold.
Important Points
- Antibiotics target parts of bacterial cells that human cells do not have.
- Using antibiotics for viral diseases is useless and harmful.
Definition — Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines that kill the bacteria that cause a disease. They do not work against viruses.
🔭 Think Like a Scientist — Discovery of Penicillin
Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, a bacteriologist from London.
A chance discovery
While studying harmful bacteria, he saw that a mould on a discarded petri dish stopped the bacteria from growing. He realised the mould released a substance that killed the bacteria. This led to penicillin, the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
Antibiotic Resistance
- Antibiotics have saved millions of lives since their discovery.
- But using them wrongly has made them less effective.
- Some bacteria now survive even after antibiotic treatment.
- This problem is called antibiotic resistance.
- It makes common infections harder to treat.
Example 1 — Taking Antibiotics Wrongly
- A person takes antibiotics for a simple cold.
- The bacteria slowly learn to survive the medicine.
- So resistance develops in the bacteria.
Example 2 — Antibiotics in Cattle
- A farmer gives antibiotics to healthy cattle.
- Resistant bacteria grow and spread to people.
- So wrong use in animals also causes resistance.
Important Points
- Use antibiotics only when a doctor prescribes them.
- Take the correct dose for the right number of days.
Definition — Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria that were once killed by an antibiotic survive and multiply despite treatment with it.
Procedure
Study the infographic in Fig. 3.5b. How do you think antibiotic resistance developed in bacteria? What precautions can reduce it?
Explanation
Resistance grows when antibiotics are used when not needed. To stop it, we must use antibiotics wisely — only when a doctor prescribes, in the correct dose, and for the right duration.
◆ Summary
- Wrong use causes resistance.
- Resistant bacteria spread fast.
- Use only with prescription.
- Take the full dose.
🌿 Our Scientific Heritage — Traditional Medicine
Traditional systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani have been used in India for many years to manage common health problems.
They use natural things like herbs, oils, and minerals, and focus on a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet. But they may not work for all diseases at all stages.
🧠 Test Yourself — Section 3.5
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What is immunity?
View Answer
The natural ability of our body to fight diseases. -
Are vaccines preventive or curative?
View Answer
Vaccines are preventive. They stop disease but cannot cure someone already sick. -
Who discovered the first vaccine?
View Answer
Edward Jenner, who made the first smallpox vaccine. -
Do antibiotics work against viruses?
View Answer
No. Antibiotics work only against bacteria, not viruses or protozoa. -
How can we reduce antibiotic resistance?
View Answer
Use antibiotics only when prescribed, in the right dose, for the right duration.
📋 NCERT Question 6 — Antibiotics cannot cure everything
What questions can Vinita ask to help Saniya see that antibiotics cannot cure every infection?
View Answer →
📋 NCERT Question 9 — No antibiotic for a viral infection
Why should we not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold, a cough, or flu?
View Answer →
