You are treating a seven-year-old girl who has a persistent cough, a low-grade fever (38.5 Celsius), and general malaise. Her mother insists it can (and should) be treated with antibiotics, since her friend's daughter had the same symptoms last month and received antibiotic treatment. You, however, suspect that it may be a viral disease. You suggest that using an antibiotic may not be the best course of action and try to convince the mother that using an antibiotic will not effectively treat the daughter's condition. The mother says that she would use the antibiotic that her friend's daughter received "just to make sure" that her own daughter will not get worse. What you should do next?

- Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections which represent the majority of colds, tonsillitis and ear infections. They are therefore often useless.

- Benign infections do not justify taking antibiotics.

- Antibiotics have no direct effect on fever or pain.

- Self-medication is a practice, absolutely forbidden.

- Antibiotics are not innocuous drugs: they sometimes have side effects (allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, etc.) that can be serious.