hamburger icon
A
अ
Read in Hindi

When do you need antibiotics for cold and cough?

Are you suffering from common cold, cough or flu symptoms. Read this before popping an antibiotic.

WrittenBy

Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : July 15, 2014 4:36 PM IST

thehealthsite.com top news

Antibiotics for coldThe on-going war on antibiotics and the term 'antibiotic resistance' has scared everyone about the use, overuse and misuse of antibiotics. It's true that antibiotics are not needed every time you suffer from cold and cough, but the symptoms shouldn't be ignored to an extent that the infection becomes worse. Antibiotics are truly a boon to medical science because they have the ability to stop infections and are life-saving in many cases. To clear your confusion, here are a few ways that can help you to determine whether or not you need an antibiotic for your infection.

  • Viral infections should not be treated with antibiotics because they are ineffective on viruses. In fact, if you take antibiotics for viral infections, it increases your chances of developing a bacterial infection which might be resistant to those antibiotics. Read more about how bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics.
  • Common cold or flu with runny nose and green mucus is a sign of viral infection. There's no need to take any medicines if you rest well and try some natural remedies for common cold.
  • You may start feeling better within two weeks if you have common flu. But, if suddenly your symptoms become worse then you may have developed a secondary bacterial infection because of weakened immunity. This is a characteristic feature of secondary infections, which should be treated with antibiotics.
  • If your cold and cough is accompanied by high fever and chills then there's a possibility that you may be suffering from a bacterial infection which needs antibiotic treatment.
  • Productive cough with thick yellow-green mucus that does not get better even after 2 weeks needs to be treated with antibiotics. Read more about side-effects of antibiotics.
  • Sore throat is caused by viral infection and doesn't need antibiotics. But strep throat is caused by bacterial infection. So, it's must for you to take the prescribed dose of antibiotic to clear the infection. Try these tips to treat sore throat.

Also, ensure that you complete the course of your medicines as prescribed, and don't stop taking them once you start feeling better. This is the main reason why antibiotic resistance has come into existence.

A proper diagnosis is the only way to determine whether you need antibiotics or not. So, don't insist your doctor to prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily. Also, don't reuse leftover medicines if you suffer from common cold or flu in the future. It's better to discard them. Read more about current status of antibiotics' use in India.

Also Read

References:

For more articles, visit our Diseases and Conditions Section. Don't miss out on the latest updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Add The Health Site as a Preferred Source Add The Health Site as a Preferred Source

Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.

Shraddha Rupavate

Shraddha Rupavate

Combining her Biotechnology background and sheer passion for reading and writing, Shraddha entered the field of scientific and health reporting in order to expand her knowledge base and communicate scientific information in the simplest form to millions of readers. ... Read More