Question

Which is the difference between an antibiotic and an antiviral?
Antibiotics build up immunity, and antivirals increase white blood cells.
Antibiotics treat the symptoms, and antivirals destroy the causing organism.
Antibiotics are in liquid form, and antivirals are in mist form.
Antibiotics kill pathogens, and antivirals reduce symptoms of illnesses caused by viruses.

Answer 1

The best choice is the fourth one, but it needs a bit of clarification.

- Antibiotics target bacteria (they kill bacteria or stop their growth). They do not work against viruses and do not “build immunity.”
- Antivirals target viruses by blocking steps in the virus lifecycle (entry, replication, release, etc.). That usually reduces viral replication, which lowers viral load and often shortens or lessens the illness and symptoms — they don’t simply “increase white blood cells.”

Neither class is limited to one physical form (both can be pills, liquids, injections, inhaled drugs, topical preparations, etc.). Vaccines — not antibiotics or antivirals — are what stimulate long‑term immunity. Also avoid using antibiotics for viral infections, because that’s ineffective and promotes antibiotic resistance.