Time To Stop Misusing Antibiotics

As monsoon illnesses surge across the country, doctors have issued a timely warning: fever does not automatically mean a bacterial infection, and popping antibiotics without medical advice is not only ineffective but dangerous. This message cannot be repeated enough. The misuse of antibiotics is one of the most serious public health threats of our time. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is not a distant future problem; it is already making infections harder to treat. When antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly, they create selective pressure that allows resistant organisms to survive and spread. The result is a silent pandemic—one that could undo decades of medical progress. The confusion is understandable. Fever, body ache, headache, and weakness can occur in both viral and bacterial infections. But antibiotics are designed to treat bacteria, not viruses. Taking them for viral illnesses like dengue or the common cold is not just useless; it contributes to resistance and exposes patients to avoidable side effects. Equally concerning is the tendency to self-medicate based on internet searches or leftover prescriptions. Doctors have cautioned against using leftover antibiotics or taking drugs prescribed for someone else. Antibiotics should not be started, stopped, or modified without medical advice. The dose, duration, and frequency matter as much as the drug itself. At the same time, doctors have rightly emphasised that the answer is not to avoid antibiotics when they are genuinely needed. Antibiotics remain lifesaving medicines. The goal is to ensure that the right patient receives the appropriate drug, dose, and duration based on the clinical situation. The rising trend of antimicrobial resistance is a wake-up call. Patients must understand that receiving an antibiotic is not necessarily a sign of better treatment. In many cases, careful observation, hydration, and supportive care are the safest and most appropriate approaches. The battle against AMR cannot be won by doctors alone. It requires a shift in public understanding. We must stop demanding antibiotics for every fever. We must trust our doctors’ judgment. And we must recognise that the drugs that save lives today may not work tomorrow if we continue to misuse them. The choice is ours—and the consequences will be felt by all.