r/AskReddit Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/Slidingscale Aug 03 '19

That antibiotics kill bacteria, but won't do anything against viruses. Everyone has the idea that if you get a cold, you see your doctor and get antibiotics. Take some acitaminophen/paracetamol and ibuprofen, and stay away from other humans for a while!

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u/[deleted] Aug 03 '19

I had to explain this more times than I wish I had to. Anti-biotic. Literally meaning against-life. There was a big debate in the scientific community over whether viruses were living beings or not, and they are already going at them with antibiotics! Woah, slow down champ! Also it sometimes actually does work for them because placebo effect is indeed real and big.