Health experts have warned people against taking antibiotics without medical advice for common seasonal illnesses, including fever, cold, cough and sore throat. The warning comes as the weather changes and seasonal illnesses rise. Experts said that self-medication can speed up drug resistance and make infections harder to treat, and the statement was issued from Islamabad on November 9.
Medical practitioners said many seasonal respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses, and antibiotics have no effect on them. Antibiotics work only against bacterial infections, and even then they should be prescribed after a proper medical assessment. The concern is especially about people who buy these medicines over the counter, without a prescription, when they feel unwell.
Why the habit carries risk
Senior physician Dr Maqsood Malik said antibiotics are useful against bacterial infections but cannot treat viral illnesses. “Taking antibiotics for every episode of fever, cough or sore throat is not only unnecessary but can also expose people to avoidable risks,” he said. He advised people with seasonal symptoms to consult a doctor rather than start antibiotics on their own.
General practitioner Dr Tauqeer Ahad described antibiotic resistance as an increasingly serious public health challenge. He explained that bacteria keep developing ways to survive the medicines meant to destroy them. “When antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly, resistant bacteria can emerge and spread, making routine infections harder to treat,” he said.
Medical specialist Dr Naila Shamim urged patients not to insist on antibiotics for common viral infections, and not to use leftover medicines from earlier prescriptions. “Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a qualified doctor,” she said. Patients should also follow the recommended dosage and duration, and should not stop a prescribed course or change the dose without consulting their doctor.
What the experts want done
The experts called for responsible prescribing and stricter controls on the sale of antibiotics, along with stricter enforcement against unnecessary sales. They said that controlling the supply of these medicines matters as much as educating people who misuse them. Loose over-the-counter access, they warned, is one of the forces behind the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, meaning the ability of germs to withstand medicines that were designed to kill them.
For everyday prevention during seasonal weather changes, the doctors recommended regular handwashing, personal hygiene, a balanced diet and limiting close contact with people who have respiratory infections. They also asked the public to use antibiotics responsibly and to take an active role in slowing the spread of drug-resistant infections.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Bukhar, zukam, khansi aur gale ki kharash aksar virus se hoti hai, aur antibiotics virus par asar nahi karti. Doctors kehte hain ke bina prescription ke antibiotics khareedna aur purani dawai khana khatarnak hai, kyun ke isse bacteria dawai ke khilaf tez ho sakte hain. Kisi bhi mausami bemari mein pehle doctor se mashwara lein. Haath bar bar dhona aur sehat mand khana bhi bachao mein madad karta hai.
