NCERT Question 9 - Chapter 2 Class 8 - Microorganisms : Friend and Foe

What are antibiotics? What precautions must be taken while taking antibiotics?

Answer

We know that diseases are caused by harmful microorganisms.

There are some microorganisms which are good for us and fight these harmful microorganisms

Antibiotic medicines contain these good microorganisms which enter our body and kill harmful microorganisms

Example

Streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin

Precautions

1-Antibiotics should be taken only when advised by a qualified doctor

2-A person must complete the full course as prescribed by the doctor

3-Antibiotics should be taken in proper doses as advised by the doctor.If a person takes antibiotics in the wrong doses or when not needed,it might make the antibiotocs less effective when the person might need them in future.

4-Antibiotics should not be taken unnecessarily as it may kill the useful bacteria in the body.