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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has news for parents this cold and flu season : antibiotics don ’ t work for a cold or the flu .
Antibiotics kill bacteria , not viruses . And colds , flu and most sore throats are caused by viruses . Antibiotics don ’ t touch viruses — never have , never will . And it ’ s not really news . It ’ s a long-documented medical fact .
But tell that to parents seeking relief for a child ’ s runny nose . Research shows that most Americans have either missed the message about appropriate antibiotic use or they simply don ’ t believe it . It ’ s a case of mistaken popular belief winning out over fact . According to public opinion research , there is a perception that “ antibiotics cure everything .”
Americans believe in the power of antibiotics so much that many patients go to the doctor expecting to get a prescription . And they do . Why ? Physicians often are too pressured for time to engage in lengthy explanations of why antibiotics won ’ t work . And , when the diagnosis is uncertain — as many symptoms for viral and bacterial infections are similar — doctors are more likely to yield to patient demands for antibiotics . Risk of Antibiotic-Resistance The problem is , taking antibiotics when they are not needed can do more harm than good . Widespread inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling an increase in drug-resistant bacteria . And sick individuals aren ’ t the only people who can suffer the consequences . Families and entire communities feel the impact when disease-causing germs become resistant to antibiotics .
The most obvious consequence of inappropriate antibiotic use is its effect on the sick patient . When antibiotics are incorrectly used to treat children or adults with viral infections , such as colds and flu , they aren ’ t getting the
Courtesy of North Oaks Health System
Sniffle or Sneeze ? No Antibiotics Please !
CDC Advises Parents about Colds , Flu and Antibiotics
best care for their condition . A course of antibiotics won ’ t fight the virus , make the patient feel better , yield a quicker recovery or keep others from getting sick .
A less obvious consequence of antibiotic overuse is the boost it gives to drug-resistant disease-causing bacteria . Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it really is needed . These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members , school mates and co-workers — threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat .
According to the CDC , antibiotic resistance is one of the world ’ s most pressing public health problems . Americans of all ages can lower this risk by talking to their doctors and using antibiotics appropriately during this cold and flu season . What to Do for Colds and Flu * Children and adults with viral infections recover when the illness has run its course . Colds caused by viruses may last for two weeks or longer .
* Measures that can help a person with a cold or flu feel better : 1 . Increase fluid intake . 2 . Use a cool mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion .
3 . Soothe throat with ice chips , sore throat spray or lozenges ( for older children and adults ).
* Viral infections may sometimes lead to bacterial infections . Patients should keep their doctor informed if an illness gets worse or lasts a long time .
To learn more about the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use , visit www . cdc . gov / getsmart < http :// www . cdc . gov / getsmart >.