AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Students should be able to explain the use of antibiotics and other…
Full specification wording
Antibiotics and painkillers: Students should be able to explain the use of antibiotics and other medicines in treating disease.
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or stopping their growth, so they work only when bacteria are the cause.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 8
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or stopping their growth, so they work only when bacteria are the cause. They do not treat viruses such as those causing colds or influenza because viruses lack the bacterial targets antibiotics act on and reproduce inside host cells. Painkillers, such as paracetamol, relieve symptoms such as pain or fever but do not kill pathogens, so they do not cure the infection. Other medicines treat specific conditions: for example, insulin replaces a hormone that is missing in some people with diabetes, and oral rehydration salts replace water and ions lost through diarrhoea. Antivirals may be used for some viral diseases, but antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
What earns the marks
- Antibiotics are effective against bacteria because they kill bacteria or inhibit their growth.
- Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, so viral infections such as colds and influenza are not treated with antibiotics.
- Painkillers relieve symptoms such as pain or fever but do not destroy pathogens or cure the underlying infection.
- Some medicines replace missing substances or treat specific conditions, for example insulin in diabetes or oral rehydration salts in diarrhoea.
- Choosing a medicine depends on the cause of the disease and whether the aim is to kill the pathogen or relieve symptoms.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Thinking antibiotics cure all infections.
Put it right by stating they act only on bacteria and not on viruses.
Confusing painkillers with antibiotics.
Put it right by explaining that painkillers relieve symptoms but do not kill pathogens.
Assuming all medicines work by killing pathogens.
Put it right by giving examples such as insulin replacement or rehydration therapy.
Exam tips
- State the cause of the disease first, then name the suitable medicine and explain its action.
- Use comparative language such as 'antibiotics kill bacteria, whereas painkillers only relieve symptoms'.
- When asked to explain, avoid simply listing medicines; link each medicine to what it does in the body.
Try the lesson
The start of the Antibiotics and painkillers: Students should be able to explain the use of antibiotics and other medicines in treating disease. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A patient has a bacterial infection in the throat. Which medicine is used to treat this infection?
Listen
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or stopping their growth, so they work only when bacteria are the cause. They do not treat viruses such as those causing colds or influenza because viruses lack the bacterial targets antibiotics act on and reproduce inside host cells. Painkillers, such as paracetamol, relieve symptoms such as pain or fever but do not kill pathogens, so they do not cure the infection. Other medicines treat specific conditions: for example, insulin replaces a hormone that is missing in some people with diabetes, and oral rehydration salts replace water and ions lost through diarrhoea. Antivirals may be used for some viral diseases, but antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Antibiotics are effective against bacteria because they kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, so viral infections such as colds and influenza are not treated with antibiotics. Painkillers relieve symptoms such as pain or fever but do not destroy pathogens or cure the underlying infection. Some medicines replace missing substances or treat specific conditions, for example insulin in diabetes or oral rehydration salts in diarrhoea. A common slip: Thinking antibiotics cure all infections. Instead, stating they act only on bacteria and not on viruses. Exam tip: State the cause of the disease first, then name the suitable medicine and explain its action.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Treating bacterial disease
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Treating viral disease
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Symptom relief versus cure
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Medicine specificity
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Treating bacterial disease
- Antibiotics treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or stopping their growth, so they work only when bacteria are the cause.
- Treating viral disease
- Antibiotics do not treat viruses such as those causing colds or influenza, because viruses lack the bacterial targets antibiotics act on and reproduce inside host cells.
- Symptom relief versus cure
- Painkillers relieve symptoms such as pain or fever but do not kill pathogens, so they do not cure the infection.
- Medicine specificity
- Choosing a medicine depends on the cause of the disease and whether the aim is to kill the pathogen or relieve symptoms.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Antibiotics and painkillers: Students should be able to explain the use of antibiotics and other medicines in treating disease.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge