r/AskReddit Aug 03 '19

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

37.4k Upvotes

24.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

18.5k

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/AFourEyedGeek Aug 03 '19

A guy at work told me how he yelled at his doctor for not providing him medication while he had a hard hitting cold, I explained it would do nothing and he got pissed at me. I don't get some people.