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It doesn't make sense to use antibiotics in the treatment of simple common colds: They don’t relieve symptoms like a stuffy nose and sore throat or make the cold go away any faster, but they often cause various side effects.
Simple common colds – with symptoms such as coughing, a stuffy nose and sometimes a mild fever – are usually caused by viruses. They almost always go away on their own within about two weeks, and often start to get better after just a few days.
Because antibiotics only fight bacteria, and not viruses, they're ineffective against colds caused by viruses. If a cold leads to a bacterial infection, it may be a good idea to use antibiotics. That is why they are sometimes prescribed as a preventive measure. But because colds almost always clear up on their own without any serious problems, and antibiotics often cause side effects, the pros and cons of using antibiotics need to be carefully considered.
Researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration – an international research network – specifically looked for studies in this area. They found a total of eleven studies involving nearly 2,000 adults, teenagers and children with a simple cold who were generally otherwise healthy.
Poor outcome for antibiotics used in simple common colds
The studies showed that antibiotics have no benefits in the treatment of simple common colds. Regardless of whether they had taken antibiotics or not, the participants’ colds lasted a similar amount of time. But about 1 out of 10 people who took antibiotics had side effects – usually diarrhea, nausea and other stomach or bowel problems. Other common side effects of antibiotics include skin rashes and, in women, vaginal thrush.
The researchers concluded that there's no good reason for the wide use of antibiotics in the treatment of simple common colds. Antibiotics should only be considered as a treatment option if a bacterial infection has developed as a result of the cold. But this only happens very rarely.
There is also another good reason for being cautious with antibiotics: Using them too much to treat minor illnesses can make bacteria resistant (unresponsive) to the antibiotics over time. The antibiotics may then no longer be effective in the treatment of more serious infections.
Sources
- Kenealy T, Arroll B. Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013; (6): CD000247. [PMC free article: PMC7044720] [PubMed: 23733381]
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- Common colds: Research summaries – Should you take antibiotics if you have a col...Common colds: Research summaries – Should you take antibiotics if you have a cold? - InformedHealth.org
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