Wife is a internal doctor (Switzerland's biggest hospital), and we were very wary about avoiding giving any kind of antibiotics before our kids reached age of 1. Common knowledge among peer doctors is that even single usage before 12 months significantly increases risk of diabetes later in life significantly (and god knows what other nasty side effects).

In some cases they are miracle cure, with some nasty side effects. But general over-prescription even in relatively developed world is ridiculous.

From my less developed and highly corrupt home (Slovakia/Czech republic), I often get news from friends who got prescribed full course of antibiotics on clearly viral infections. General doctors there are mostly on such an abysmal level that self-treatment is sometimes better than their clueless visits. Even for small kids.

Another item are painkillers - I see prescriptions for literally anything, usually heavy doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen but I've seen worse for maladies which don't warrant it. I don't even take those in pharmacies unless I know I have acute inflammation to treat.