How many courses of antibiotics do people take per year on average?

[Grumbler]

Just wondering.

[Sith]

In general too many. Personally one every few years so only if it is really needed.

[huja]

Haven't taken a course since 2008 . . . Knock on wood

[Grumbler]

Oh no. I guess I'm just anxious about it as I've been taking like once a year recently. Crap.

[hullexile]

If and when needed but not otherwise. So in the last 12 months three times. Pneumonia, ear infection that wouldn't shift and a boil on the bum (which sounds funny but is far from it, my first and hopefully last ). Exceptionally bad year.

[jgl]

Unless there's a compelling reason otherwise, then Zero. I might have taken a course once in the last five years or so, but can't remember.

[Grumbler]

I wish there are more rapid testing available to screen out viral infections.

[justjoe86]

Pretty much never. And this is despite the doctor sometimes giving them to me for no apparent reason

[civil_servant]

Haven't had oral antibiotics since 2002. Only creams. Knock on wood too.

[civil_servant]

I wish there are more rapid testing available to screen out viral infections.

Sometimes it's possible to tell. Viral infections often come with a set of symptoms, such as cough and runny nose. But then viral infections can turn into bacterial infections. It gets much harder to tell then.