system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is the human body capable of fighting both viruses and bacteria with the same effectiveness?

So I can recall several times in which my GP has highlighted the fact that for a virus such as the flu or the common cold, you just need to let your defences take the wheel and fight it off. For cases in which the body has to fight a bacterial infection (pharyngitis - strep throat) and in which you typically are prescribed antibiotics...I wonder if you don't go through such treatment whether the immune system is capable to fight off the infection with the same effectiveness as when fighting a virus.

Apologies if it's a silly question, I come from a culture and age in which antibiotics were prescribed too easily IMO. 

Thanks!
gpt
Depends entirely on the particular virus or bacterium. Some are handled well by the immune system, some are not.

I think the real difference here is the availability/relevance of antibiotics vs. antivirals for treating certain symptoms. There are some situations where you can use antiviral drugs, but in many cases it isn't considered worth it (or there simply isn't an effective drug available). But we're also coming around to the fact that antibiotics probably should not be prescribed as often/freely as they have been historically.