Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
More than one in four adults misrepresented symptoms to seek antibiotics
A survey found that about 28% of US adults had misrepresented symptoms to seek antibiotics for themselves, while 27% of parents or caregivers said they had done so for a child.
Researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 adults and 236 parents or caregivers about efforts to obtain the medicines from clinicians.
The most common claimed symptoms were fever, cough and sore throat, which can resemble a cold.
Antibiotics do not treat viral illnesses such as flu and COVID, and taking them can cause side effects.
Overuse can make antibiotics less effective as bacteria develop resistance to the drugs.
People were more likely to misrepresent symptoms if they felt a doctor had not taken their illness seriously, and researchers said clinicians should make clear they are listening even when antibiotics cannot help.
The researchers said the findings point to better communication between patients and clinicians rather than greater suspicion of patients.
More than one in four surveyed US adults said they had misrepresented symptoms to try to obtain antibiotics for themselves, a study found.
About 27.9% of 959 adults reported doing so, while 27% of surveyed parents or caregivers said they had lied to obtain antibiotics for a child.
Cold-like symptoms, including fever, cough and sore throat, were the most commonly falsely reported symptoms.
Researchers said people were more likely to misrepresent symptoms if they felt a doctor had not taken their illness seriously.
They warned that antibiotics do not treat viral infections and that overuse can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
- Who
- US adults and parents or caregivers surveyed by researchers.
- What
- Respondents said they had misrepresented symptoms to try to get antibiotics for themselves or a child.
- When
- The study was reported on October 30, 2026.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- Respondents commonly believed antibiotics were the only treatment that could help when they or their children felt very ill.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers reported the study in JAMA Network Open.
Infobae and MedPage Today published reports on the findings.
- Adults surveyed
- 959
- Adults who misrepresented symptoms
- 27.9%
- Parents or caregivers surveyed
- 236
- Parents or caregivers who lied for a child
- 27%
- Most commonly falsely reported symptoms
- Cold-like symptoms, including fever, cough and sore throat
- Age group with higher likelihood
- Adults aged 18 to 33 were three times more likely to lie than adults aged 65 or older
3 sources
What people are saying
People suffer from unpleasant symptoms and may be firmly convinced that antibiotics are the only thing that will help them feel better
There are very understandable reasons why patients may feel the need to misrepresent their symptoms, or caregivers may do so on behalf of their children; they are reasons we can empathize with
We are just saying that there may be a better way