Doctors Warn Against This Habit Amid Seasonal Illnesses

Health experts are calling for stricter controls on the sale of antibiotics, warning that loose over-the-counter access is fueling resistance that could leave routine infections untreatable.

Key points

• New Govt App Lets You Check If Medicines Are Genuine and Verify Rates.
• Senior physician Dr Maqsood Malik stressed that antibiotics only work against bacterial infections.
• General practitioner Dr Tauqeer Ahad described antibiotic resistance as a serious public health challenge, explaining that bacteria can develop ways to survive the medicines meant to destroy them.
• "When antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly, resistant bacteria can emerge and spread, making routine infections harder to treat, " he remarked.
• "Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a qualified doctor, " she remarked.

Notably, the push targets a stubborn habit: patients buying antibiotics without a prescription for viral seasonal illnesses like fever, cold, cough, and sore throat, conditions doctors say antibiotics cannot treat at all.

Senior physician Dr Maqsood Malik stressed that antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. Meanwhile, medical specialist Dr Naila Shamim pressed patients to stop insisting on the drugs or using leftover prescriptions.

Experts cautioned that misuse allows resistant bacteria to spread, weakening treatments and straining healthcare systems. They pressed responsible prescribing, stricter enforcement against unnecessary sales, and preventive steps like handwashing, hygiene, a balanced diet, and limiting close contact with infected residents.

For context, the message to authorities is blunt: controlling antibiotic supply matters as much as educating the individuals who misuse it. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

Taken together, the developments around doctors Warn Against This Habit Amid Seasonal Illnesses point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.