Survey Reveals More Than a Quarter of Americans Falsify Symptoms to Obtain Antibiotics
More than a quarter of Americans have exaggerated or completely fabricated medical symptoms to secure antibiotic prescriptions for themselves or their children, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers analyzed nearly 1,000 completed online surveys collected from adults nationwide in early 2026. The findings show that 28% of respondents misrepresented their own symptoms, while 27% did so on behalf of a child in their care. Among those who lied, 108 respondents exaggerated symptoms, 19 fabricated them, and 141 did both.
Most of these deceptions targeted common viral illnesses that antibiotics cannot treat. 65.7% of adults who misrepresented symptoms focused on cold-related issues like a cough, fever, or sore throat. Other categories included stomach symptoms at 49.3%, joint or muscle pain at 46.3%, and urinary symptoms. Jeffrey Linder of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine noted in an accompanying commentary that out of eight symptom categories studied, only urinary symptoms clearly justified antibiotic prescribing.
Patient Motivations and the Mechanics of Deception
Respondents cited intense physical discomfort and external pressures as primary drivers for their dishonesty. Over 62% of participants felt really sick, about 62% believed antibiotics were the only thing that would help, and roughly 61% stated the drugs were needed to return to work or school quickly. Additional motivations included a desire to prevent spreading illness to close contacts, a belief that they understood their own bodies better than clinicians, and a wish to control their personal treatment paths. Over 40% of those who altered the truth exaggerated durations, such as claiming a cough lasted two weeks instead of one, while about 7% lied about having a fever.
Despite the inaccuracies of these claims, the deception frequently succeeded. 77% of adult patients and 87% of caregivers reported that their fabricated or exaggerated stories successfully yielded an antibiotic prescription. Less than 30% of these patients expressed regret for lying or taking the drugs, with those who did feeling remorse primarily due to adverse side effects or treatment ineffectiveness rather than moral concerns over dishonesty.
Misuse of Antibacterial Medications Accelerates Resistant Bacterial Strains
The widespread misuse of antibacterial medications poses serious risks to global health by accelerating antimicrobial resistance. Coauthor Andrea Levy, professor of social sciences at Connecticut State Community College Middlesex, emphasized that these drugs are not benign and that unnecessary use strengthens resistant bacterial strains. Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that drug-resistant bacteria and fungi caused approximately 9.7 million infections in the U.S. in 2023, a significant increase from 2.8 million in 2017. In severe cases, some hospitals have already had to weigh whether to treat certain cancers because of high risks involving antibiotic-resistant infections.
Past medical experiences heavily influence patient behavior. Co-lead author Alistair Thorpe of University of Utah Health explained that individuals were more likely to overstate symptoms if doctors had dismissed their concerns in the past. Patients who recovered from viral infections after being incorrectly prescribed antibiotics previously formed a false association between the medication and their recovery.
Researchers Test New Communication Patterns for Unnecessary Antibiotics
Senior author Angela Fagerlin noted the importance of testing new communication patterns to ensure patients feel heard when told antibiotics are unnecessary. The results show a need for better communication strategies for both doctors and patients, the researchers say.
Common Questions About Antibiotic Misrepresentation
Why do patients lie about cold and flu symptoms if they know antibiotics treat bacteria?
Many patients experience intense discomfort and hold a strong psychological belief that antibiotics are the only treatment that will help them recover, often fueled by past experiences where they recovered from viral infections after receiving an unnecessary prescription.
How frequently do doctors prescribe antibiotics after patients lie about symptoms?
Data published in JAMA Network Open shows that 77% of adult patients and 87% of caregivers who misrepresented their symptoms successfully walked away with the antibiotic prescriptions they wanted.
What are the broader public health risks of overusing antibiotics?
Overuse kills sensitive bacteria while leaving resistant strains intact to multiply rapidly, driving antimicrobial resistance that contributed to approximately 9.7 million resistant infections in the U.S. in 2023, according to CDC data.
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