Which term describes a medicine used to treat infections?

Which term describes a medicine used to treat infections?

• A. Antihistamine
• B. Antibiotic
• C. Antibacterial
• D. Antidepressant

Answer: (B)

When you treat an infection with a medicine that targets the organism causing the illness, you’re using an antibiotic. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria or stop them from growing, which is why they’re the go-to treatment for bacterial infections. They don’t work on viruses, which is an important distinction to know in deciding when antibiotics are appropriate. The other terms describe different kinds of drugs: antihistamines relieve allergy symptoms, antidepressants treat mood disorders, and antibacterial is a broader label for substances that kill bacteria or slow their growth—often including things like cleaners or soaps, not necessarily a prescription medicine used to treat an infection. So the best fit for a medicine used to treat infections is antibiotic.

When you treat an infection with a medicine that targets the organism causing the illness, you’re using an antibiotic. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria or stop them from growing, which is why they’re the go-to treatment for bacterial infections. They don’t work on viruses, which is an important distinction to know in deciding when antibiotics are appropriate.

The other terms describe different kinds of drugs: antihistamines relieve allergy symptoms, antidepressants treat mood disorders, and antibacterial is a broader label for substances that kill bacteria or slow their growth—often including things like cleaners or soaps, not necessarily a prescription medicine used to treat an infection. So the best fit for a medicine used to treat infections is antibiotic.