Measles and antibiotic???

I was listening to one of the popular radio station in this country. And the highlight of the day is always the prank call. I bet you know how the format is. If not, here, a wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jacintha_Saldanha

In a nutshell, a husband (the host's gym trainer) wanted to prank her wife regarding their child's appointment with a doctor.

Basically, the host assumed the role of a rude doctor, and the wife told the 'doctor' that she missed an appointment because her daughter had fever, measles. The 'doctor' being rude calling the 'victim' an irresponsible mother.

What caught my attention was, the mother told the prankster (doctor) that the other doctor gave her antibiotic for measles?

Antibiotic for viral fever? Maybe for secondary bacterial infection. I wasn't there. But what worries me is the rampant usage of antibiotics to treat viral fever. And this leads to antibiotic resistance.

Currently, we heard of MERS coronaviridae and in the past MRSA outbreak in a rural hospital (which is actually in my parent's hometown)

Don't we learn for past history? Do we think antibiotic an elixir for all infectious diseases?

Doctor's should be careful when prescribing antibiotics. or maybe patients are so adamant on having antibiotic. Doctors should advise the patient their rationale. Well, doctors think that they are so 'brilliant' not having the time to advise the 'stupid' layman.

And if the patients are unhappy with the doctor for not prescribing antibiotics, then comes the social media. "Dr. X is so cheapskate... he wouldn't want to prescribe antibiotic for my fever..."

Rather than losing patient (read client and $$$$) they would rather please the patient, putting them at risk for antibiotic resistance.

Again, I wasn't there. I don't know the rationale behind prescribing antibiotics for viral fever, but this is just a comment on our doctor prescribing antibiotic like it's a standard operating procedure. I'm not sure about the current Clinical Practical Guidelines (CPG) though. I would check them later after I'm done with Business Law exam. Why would I read the CPGs when I am already a 'layman'? Well, it's a good-to-know information. And I think patients or any layman should read the CPGs so that they are well informed... and our doctors are 'apparently too busy' to explain.