Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Survey finds some patients misrepresent symptoms to obtain antibiotics
A survey of 959 U.S. adults found that 268 had exaggerated or invented symptoms to get antibiotics.
The respondents said they had told clinicians symptoms were worse or lasted longer than they were, or claimed symptoms they did not have.
Most who tried it said they got antibiotics at least once: 206 of the 268 respondents.
The survey used an online panel, not a random sample, so the researchers described its results as an initial estimate rather than a national count.
People often said they felt very sick, thought antibiotics were the only help, or wanted to return to work or caregiving sooner.
Antibiotics do not treat viruses such as those behind most colds, and unnecessary use can help bacteria become resistant to the drugs.
That resistance is a wider public-health concern, and the survey does not describe any next steps.
A survey of 959 U.S. adults found that more than a quarter said they had exaggerated or invented symptoms to obtain antibiotics.
Of the 268 respondents who reported doing so, 206 said it had worked at least once.
The most commonly misrepresented symptoms were cold-like symptoms.
Respondents most often said they had felt very sick or believed antibiotics were the only thing that would help.
The researchers said the online panel was not a random sample, so the results are a first estimate rather than a national count.
- Who
- 959 U.S. adults answered the survey; 268 said they had misrepresented symptoms to obtain antibiotics.
- What
- The survey examined how often patients exaggerated or invented symptoms to get antibiotics and whether they succeeded.
- When
- The article was published on November 10, 2026. The survey date is not stated.
- Where
- The survey respondents were in the United States.
- Why
- Respondents most often said they felt very sick or believed antibiotics were the only thing that would help. Other reasons included returning to work or parenting faster and avoiding passing illness to someone close.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Survey respondents
- 959 U.S. adults
- Reported misrepresentation
- 268 respondents
- Reported success
- 206 said it had earned them antibiotics at least once
- Most misrepresented symptoms
- Cold-like symptoms, named by about two-thirds of the 268
- Publication date
- November 10, 2026
What people are saying
It is a tough situation
These medications are not totally benign for the patient