The basic guideline is when there is a high likelihood of bacterial infection, said general practitioner Ng Siau Peng. Very mild bacterial infections may go away by themselves if the immune system is strong enough, but usually, antibiotics are required to help the patient recover faster, he said.

Bacterial infections range from strep throat to tuberculosis. “Some patients think antibiotics can help with faster recovery, so as doctors, we have to explain why we are not giving them any,” said Dr Ng.

Doctors are trained to identify which types of antibiotics are suitable for which groups of bacteria. Dr Ng said patients should clarify their doubts with doctors if they are unsure about the prescription.

Rather than taking the initiative to ask for antibiotics, Dr Leong suggested that patients request for diagnostic tests instead. This will give doctors a clearer idea of whether an ailment is caused by a bacterium or virus, he said.

No. It is unsafe to do so, said Dr Ng. Some types of bacterial infections require specific types of antibiotics.

Taking the wrong antibiotic may actually cause a delay in proper treatment, which can worsen the infection, he said.

You can also have allergies to certain antibiotics that you may not be aware of.

Dr Leong said patients are not the only ones at fault. Doctors are also partly responsible for the rise of deadly superbugs, a strain of bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotic drugs.

“Many of us use antibiotics in the wrong setting. Even in the best case scenario, antibiotics are used inappropriately 15 to 20 per cent of the time,” said Dr Leong.

Wrong prescriptions can happen as it is difficult to tell a bacterial infection from a viral one initially.

He said: “You need time for a disease to manifest to differentiate between the two types.

“It is difficult because everyone wants to get well quickly and go back to (work). You don’t have the luxury of time any more.”

If your child has a sore throat, cough, or runny nose, you might expect the doctor to prescribe antibiotics. But most of the time, children don’t need antibiotics to treat a respiratory illness.

Antibiotics may help if your child has a bacterial infection. But if your child has a virus from the common cold or the flu for example, antibiotics will not help your child feel better or keep others from getting sick.

Side effects can occur in one out of every 10 children who take an antibiotic. Side effects may include rashes, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics encourages bacteria to change, so that medicines don’t work as well to get rid of them. This is known as antibiotic resistance.

“Antibiotics are sometimes required, for example, if you are having a urinary tract infection, Group B streptococcus infection, bacterial tonsillitis, etc,” says Dr Goh Shen Li, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in SL Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre.

There are many antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy, including common ones such as those in the penicillin family or erythromycin.

Trust your doctor – take them as prescribed, especially if your baby’s health or yours could potentially be affected with an untreated severe infection.

Text: Young Parents / Additional reporting: Natalya Molok