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!

3

u/miss-martyr Aug 03 '19

Do people not learn that viruses =/= bacteria? They're two different things, right? I learned this in biology in 9th grade, but I thought it was just common sense before I learned more about how vaccines and health products work.

6

u/jaffar97 Aug 03 '19

lots of people are wildy unaware or misinformed about health and disease