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Why can't I take antibiotics for a cold or flu?

Antibiotics cannot cure a cold or a flu, and can cause more harm instead

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ST ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA

David Lye

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Recently, a patient who is in his mid-30s and whom I have been seeing for a chronic medical condition asked me for antibiotics.
"My phlegm is yellow. Every time this happens, I ask for antibiotics from my GP, take them and I get better in a few days," he said.
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