2007-01-05 12:31:51 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
It has to do with the structure of and the way viruses and bacteria reproduce.
A virus is basically a small piece of genetic material, usually DNA, which is encased in a protein. They do NOT have any organelles (things like nuclei, ribosomes, etc) of their own and are therefore incapable or reproducing by themselves.
A virus attacks its host and injects part of its DNA into the host's cells. When the host's cells reproduce, the virus' DNA is replicated as well. The cell can only contain so much before it lyses (basically explodes) which allows the replicated virus to attack other cells in the body. This creates a chain reaction causing us to "feel sick."
A virus can also lay dormant in the body for an indefinite amount of time until environmental conditions in the body are ideal for it to become active again.
Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms - simple organisms that lack membrane-encased organelles. They DO have a nucleoid region and ribosomes.
Antibiotics inhibit or stop bacterial growth by binding to the ribosomes of the bacteria. The ribosomes are responsible for generating new proteins which allow the bacteria to grow or reproduce. By stopping the ribosomes from making proteins, they are essentially stopping the bacteria from growing.
Hope this helps explain it!
2007-01-05 12:50:05 · answer #1 · answered by tartu_k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections. Viral infections are completely different and are uneffected by antibiotics. Viral infections generally last for a week to ten days (depending on the virus) and you can basically only treat the symptoms while the virus lives its lifespan. Generally once you have had a viral infection, you can't get the same one again. For example, you can only get chicken pox or mumps once.
2007-01-05 12:38:37 · answer #2 · answered by newph1956 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections. when people take antibiotics for a virus it isn't going to kill the virus but can cause the body to become immune to the antibiotic and/or help the bacteria it was designed to fight become resistant to it which is why there are so many super bugs out there.
there are some anti-viral medications but you usually have to catch the virus soon for them to be effective.
2007-01-05 12:36:19 · answer #3 · answered by Mutly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
antibiotics were developed to treat BACTERIA only. There are target specific antibiotics that can be taken, or broad-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin.
Unfortunately there is no pharmacological treatment for virsuses currently, however you can prevent many of them such as the flu, through vaccinations
2007-01-05 12:39:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because antibiotics kill only bacteria. A virus is a different life form.
2007-01-05 12:35:18 · answer #5 · answered by Docter Steve S. ND 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because antibiotics treat bacteria. A virus isnt really alive, so it is tough it kill it.
2007-01-05 13:10:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't because they were never designed to. That's why there are antivirals.
2007-01-05 12:39:44 · answer #7 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋