Antibiotics and You: An introduction to antibiotic resistant infections

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines. They help you get better when you are sick from bacteria. Bacteria are tiny germs that can make you feel unwell. Antibiotics kill these germs so you can feel better.

If you find it hard to read, you can: - Ask someone to read it with you. - Use apps or tools that read text out loud. - Look at pictures about antibiotics to help understand.

How do antibiotics work?

Antibiotics are special medicines that help you get better when you are sick because of germs called bacteria. These medicines can stop bacteria from growing or kill them so you can feel well again.

If you need help to read, ask someone to read it with you. You can also try listening to it with a text-to-speech tool.

What infections can antibiotics help with?

Antibiotics are medicine that can fight germs.

They can help with:

• Bacterial infections, like sore throats caused by bacteria.
• Ear infections.
• Some skin infections.

Antibiotics do not help with colds or the flu because those are caused by viruses.

If reading is hard, you can:

• Ask someone to read it with you.
• Listen to the words on an audiobook.
• Use a reading app for help.

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance means that medicine called antibiotics stop working as well to fight germs. This happens when germs change to protect themselves from the antibiotics. When this happens, it's harder to get better from infections.

To help understand better, you can:

• Look at pictures or videos that show how germs change.
• Talk with a nurse or doctor who can explain it simply.
• Use apps or tools that explain health topics with simple words and pictures.

How do germs stop medicine from working?

Sometimes, tiny germs (bacteria) can make us sick. Doctors give us medicine called antibiotics to kill these germs and help us get better.

But sometimes germs learn how to stop the medicine from working. This is called resistance.

Here's how it happens:

• Step 1: Some germs are strong. They don't get killed by the medicine right away.
• Step 2: The strong germs stay alive and make more strong germs.
• Step 3: Now there are many strong germs that the medicine cannot kill.

To help us understand and stay safe, we can:

• Ask doctors or nurses questions if we're unsure.
• Use pictures or videos to learn more about germs.

Why is antibiotic resistance a problem?

Antibiotic resistance means medicine that fights germs does not work well anymore. This is bad because:

• Sick people may not get better quickly.
• Germs can spread to others.
• Doctors need to use stronger medicine, which might have more side effects.

To learn more, you might try:

• Talking to a doctor or nurse.
• Reading simple health books.
• Watching health videos for kids.

Can I use antibiotics when I have a cold or the flu?

If you have a cold or the flu, antibiotics will not help you feel better. Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only work on bacteria. It's important to rest, drink lots of water, and keep warm when you have a cold or the flu.

If you don't feel better after a few days, or if you feel very sick, talk to a doctor. They can tell you what to do and if you need to take any medicine.

Helpful Tips:

• Use a thermometer to check if you have a fever.
• Sleep well to help your body fight the virus.
• Use tissues when you sneeze or cough, and throw them away after.

What are the common side effects of antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight germs.

Sometimes antibiotics can make you feel unwell. Here are some things that might happen:

• Your tummy might hurt.
• You might feel sick or be sick (vomit).
• Sometimes you might need to go to the toilet a lot (diarrhea).
• Your skin could get a rash.

If you feel these things, tell a grown-up or a doctor.

Helpful tools: Use a calendar to track how you feel each day. You can use stickers or happy/sad faces.

If you are worried, talk to someone who can help you understand.

How do I take my medicine from the doctor?

What if I forget to take my medicine?

Did you forget to take your medicine? Don't worry, it can happen.

Here is what you can do:

• If it's not too late, take your medicine as soon as you remember.
• If it's nearly time for your next dose, skip the one you missed. Just take the next dose.
• Do not take two doses at one time. That can make you sick.
• Ask a grown-up or doctor if you are not sure what to do.

To help remember, try using a reminder on your phone or ask someone to remind you.

Can drinking alcohol change how my medicine works?

Why is it important to take all your antibiotic medicine?

It is important to take all your medicine because it helps you get better. If you stop too soon, the germs might not all be gone. Then, the germs can get strong and make you sick again. Always finish your medicine like the doctor says.

If you find it hard to remember to take your medicine, try setting an alarm or ask someone to remind you.

How can I stop germs from fighting antibiotics?

We use medicine called antibiotics to kill bad germs that make us sick. But sometimes germs learn to fight back. This is called antibiotic resistance. Here are some tips to help:

• Only use antibiotics when a doctor says you need them. Don't ask for them if you're not sure.
• Take all the medicine, even if you feel better. The medicine needs time to work.
• Don't share your medicine with anyone, even if they are sick too.
• Keep your hands clean by washing them with soap and water.
• Tell your doctor if you feel sick after taking antibiotics.

If you need help, you can ask a family member or a friend to talk with you about this. They can help you remember what to do. You can also write down what the doctor says and look at it later.

Can we use something else instead of antibiotics for some infections?

What to do if you think you have an infection that doesn't get better with medicine

If you think you have an infection that is not getting better with medicine, tell a doctor. Medicines that don't work on infections might mean the germs are too strong.

Here is what you can do:

• Visit or call a doctor.
• Tell the doctor your symptoms.
• Follow the doctor's advice.

Some tools that might help:

• Have someone with you when talking to the doctor.
• Write down what the doctor says.
• Use simple words when talking about how you feel.

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines. They help you get better when you are sick from bacteria. Bacteria are tiny germs that can make you feel unwell. Antibiotics kill these germs so you can feel better.

If you find it hard to read, you can: - Ask someone to read it with you. - Use apps or tools that read text out loud. - Look at pictures about antibiotics to help understand.

How do antibiotics work?

Antibiotics are special medicines that help you get better when you are sick because of germs called bacteria. These medicines can stop bacteria from growing or kill them so you can feel well again.

If you need help to read, ask someone to read it with you. You can also try listening to it with a text-to-speech tool.

What infections can antibiotics help with?

Antibiotics are medicine that can fight germs.

They can help with:

• Bacterial infections, like sore throats caused by bacteria.
• Ear infections.
• Some skin infections.

Antibiotics do not help with colds or the flu because those are caused by viruses.

If reading is hard, you can:

• Ask someone to read it with you.
• Listen to the words on an audiobook.
• Use a reading app for help.

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance means that medicine called antibiotics stop working as well to fight germs. This happens when germs change to protect themselves from the antibiotics. When this happens, it's harder to get better from infections.

To help understand better, you can:

• Look at pictures or videos that show how germs change.
• Talk with a nurse or doctor who can explain it simply.
• Use apps or tools that explain health topics with simple words and pictures.

How do germs stop medicine from working?

Sometimes, tiny germs (bacteria) can make us sick. Doctors give us medicine called antibiotics to kill these germs and help us get better.

But sometimes germs learn how to stop the medicine from working. This is called resistance.

Here's how it happens:

• Step 1: Some germs are strong. They don't get killed by the medicine right away.
• Step 2: The strong germs stay alive and make more strong germs.
• Step 3: Now there are many strong germs that the medicine cannot kill.

To help us understand and stay safe, we can:

• Ask doctors or nurses questions if we're unsure.
• Use pictures or videos to learn more about germs.

Why is antibiotic resistance a problem?

Antibiotic resistance means medicine that fights germs does not work well anymore. This is bad because:

• Sick people may not get better quickly.
• Germs can spread to others.
• Doctors need to use stronger medicine, which might have more side effects.

To learn more, you might try:

• Talking to a doctor or nurse.
• Reading simple health books.
• Watching health videos for kids.

Can I use antibiotics when I have a cold or the flu?

If you have a cold or the flu, antibiotics will not help you feel better. Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only work on bacteria. It's important to rest, drink lots of water, and keep warm when you have a cold or the flu.

If you don't feel better after a few days, or if you feel very sick, talk to a doctor. They can tell you what to do and if you need to take any medicine.

Helpful Tips:

• Use a thermometer to check if you have a fever.
• Sleep well to help your body fight the virus.
• Use tissues when you sneeze or cough, and throw them away after.

What are the common side effects of antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight germs.

Sometimes antibiotics can make you feel unwell. Here are some things that might happen:

• Your tummy might hurt.
• You might feel sick or be sick (vomit).
• Sometimes you might need to go to the toilet a lot (diarrhea).
• Your skin could get a rash.

If you feel these things, tell a grown-up or a doctor.

Helpful tools: Use a calendar to track how you feel each day. You can use stickers or happy/sad faces.

If you are worried, talk to someone who can help you understand.

How do I take my medicine from the doctor?

What if I forget to take my medicine?

Did you forget to take your medicine? Don't worry, it can happen.

Here is what you can do:

• If it's not too late, take your medicine as soon as you remember.
• If it's nearly time for your next dose, skip the one you missed. Just take the next dose.
• Do not take two doses at one time. That can make you sick.
• Ask a grown-up or doctor if you are not sure what to do.

To help remember, try using a reminder on your phone or ask someone to remind you.

Can drinking alcohol change how my medicine works?

Why is it important to take all your antibiotic medicine?

It is important to take all your medicine because it helps you get better. If you stop too soon, the germs might not all be gone. Then, the germs can get strong and make you sick again. Always finish your medicine like the doctor says.

If you find it hard to remember to take your medicine, try setting an alarm or ask someone to remind you.

How can I stop germs from fighting antibiotics?

We use medicine called antibiotics to kill bad germs that make us sick. But sometimes germs learn to fight back. This is called antibiotic resistance. Here are some tips to help:

• Only use antibiotics when a doctor says you need them. Don't ask for them if you're not sure.
• Take all the medicine, even if you feel better. The medicine needs time to work.
• Don't share your medicine with anyone, even if they are sick too.
• Keep your hands clean by washing them with soap and water.
• Tell your doctor if you feel sick after taking antibiotics.

If you need help, you can ask a family member or a friend to talk with you about this. They can help you remember what to do. You can also write down what the doctor says and look at it later.

Can we use something else instead of antibiotics for some infections?

What to do if you think you have an infection that doesn't get better with medicine

If you think you have an infection that is not getting better with medicine, tell a doctor. Medicines that don't work on infections might mean the germs are too strong.

Here is what you can do:

• Visit or call a doctor.
• Tell the doctor your symptoms.
• Follow the doctor's advice.

Some tools that might help:

• Have someone with you when talking to the doctor.
• Write down what the doctor says.
• Use simple words when talking about how you feel.