The wait times in our emergency departments are longer than usual due to illnesses like RSV and the flu. View our estimated ED wait times and learn more about where to get care for your sick child.

Patient & Family Education Materials

Start over with a New Search

What Are Antibiotics?

Article Translations: (Spanish)

Antibiotics

Say: an-ty-by-AH-tiks

These awesome medicines attack bacteria that make you sick. (They work only against bacteria, though, so they aren't used for illnesses caused by a virus, like a cold.) Want to hear something weird? Some antibiotics are made from fuzzy mold (penicillin comes from orange mold)! So if you have strep throat or some other infection caused by bacteria, don't worry, because antibiotics can help you feel better!

Back To Top

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

© 1995-2025 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com