Are antibiotics and penicilin the same thing?
And, which one works on a viral infection and which works for a bacterial infection?
Thank you.
2006-10-27 10:06:17 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Penicillin is an antibiotic and no antibiotic works for a viral infection but they do for a bacterial one,
2006-10-30 15:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by sammy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antibiotics can not "work on"{cure} a viral infection and should not be taken or prescribed for them. Penicillin is a form of antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. Over prescribing of antibiotics can cause you to build up an immunity to them. Viral infections {the flu,cold} must run their course usually anywhere between 7-10 days.
2006-10-27 17:10:17 · answer #2 · answered by texas_angel_wattitude 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
penicillin is an antibiotic. only antibiotics work on bacterial infections. antivirals may work on viral infections. problems have arisen due to an overuse of antibiotics on every little thing being treated with antibiotics....sometimes due to patients wanting something , anything to make them feel better. so things have mutated and become resistent to usual treatment. HIV is a virus and therefore treated with heavy duty antiviral medications, as is herpes. sometimes a doctor can't be sure if it's viral or bacterial and you may need to be treated, as in meningitis....as the tests can take days to come back, in that case you would be treated with antibiotics for your own protection. the same is true for things like strept throat...the test can take up to 2 days to come back.
2006-10-27 17:11:23 · answer #3 · answered by bella36 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Penicillin is an antibiotic which treats bacterial infections. A viral infection is treated with antiviral medication.
2006-10-28 04:52:11 · answer #4 · answered by Das 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Penicillin is an antibiotic. No antibiotics work on viral infections. They work on bacterial infections only. There are a few medications that are antivirals like Valtrex and Zovirax that work against viruses, but they generally won't cure it, they just help with symptoms.
2006-10-27 21:11:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Penicillin IS an antibiotic. Antibiotics are ONLY for bacterial infections. You do not give antibiotics for viral infections. They do not work.
2006-10-27 17:11:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Penicillin is an antibiotic. Penicillin works on bacterial infections.
2006-10-27 17:11:44 · answer #7 · answered by dragonkisses 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
penicilin is a type of antibiotic
2006-10-27 17:08:10 · answer #8 · answered by kristin 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think penicillin is a serum , or , i dunno LOL
2006-10-27 17:10:34 · answer #9 · answered by xXblacknwhiteXx 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋