Antibiotics vs Painkillers
It is vital to understand the difference between medicines that treat symptoms and those that kill pathogens.
Which one would you take for a headache, and which for a chest infection?
What is Antibiotics vs Painkillers?
"Antibiotics kill bacteria; painkillers merely suppress the symptoms of an illness."
Antibiotics such as penicillin are used to treat:
Why is it important that specific bacteria are treated with specific antibiotics?
Why is antibiotic resistance a serious problem?
Treating Illness
Painkillers (e.g. Aspirin) treat symptoms but don't kill the cause.
Antibiotics (e.g. Penicillin) kill the bacteria causing the illness.
Neither of these can kill viral pathogens.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are another type that reduce swelling but don't kill pathogens.
Accelerate your revision
Master antibiotics vs painkillers and more with our exam-focused practice app.