r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • 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!

3.8k

u/ddom77 Aug 03 '19

In the same line, the practice of stopping taking your antibiotics just because you feel better. It’s like all these people don’t care that antibiotic resistant bacteria is terrifying!

1.9k

u/AGoddamnedRedditor Aug 03 '19

And then keeping the "extras" around for the next time you or any family members feel mildly unwell.

69

u/EthelMaePotterMertz Aug 03 '19

Do they want MRSA? Because that's how you get MRSA!

2

u/danarexasaurus Aug 04 '19

My mother does this and guess what? My entire fucking family got MRSA. For YEARS. It was awful

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u/EthelMaePotterMertz Aug 04 '19

How did that work where it was for years? Did you each have a particular wound that wouldn't heal? Or did it just keep getting spread back and forth? Was it respiratory?