Like all medications and supplements, there is a time and place where they are useful.  This is a brief summary of the benefits and risks that everyone should be aware of especially with antibiotic resistance so common.  The more they are used, the more resistance.  Even people that don’t use antibiotics are at risk of catching the super bugs created by others.  MRSA infections are a prime example.

For most acute upper respiratory infections, there is only

1 in 4000 chance that an antibiotic will actually help, but

1 in 4 chance of diarrhea,

1 in 50 chance of skin reactions and

1 in 1000 chance it’ll cause an ER visit. 

Not the best of odds.

Guidelines dictate that they are useful for symptoms after 7-10 days or if symptoms worsen after 5 days of supportive therapy.  Things that help are tylenol, ibuprofen, decongestants, antihistamines, etc. There are prescription medications that can help also such as nasal steroid sprays, Nasal decongestants, prescription decongestant and antihistamine combinations, cough medications and when clinically necessary antibiotics.  

Self Care for Cold Symptoms

National Guidelines