Many people take antibiotics when they catch a cold. They think that these will help them get well quickly. But antibiotics are not effective for all diseases. Knowing how they are used will help you avoid misuse and stay healthy.
The common cold is a viral infection that affects the nose and throat. Doctors prescribe antibiotics to patients to treat bacterial infections. There are several medicines that treat bacterial infections. Some of them include Amoxicillin and Azithromycin. But these can’t cure a viral infection such as the common cold. In this blog, we will discuss the common causes of the common cold and why antibiotics fail to cure this disease.
What Causes the Common Cold?
The common cold is caused by viruses. The most common viruses are rhinoviruses. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the viruses transmit through the air. Once the virus enters the body, it targets the lining of the nose and throat. This results in inflammation and irritation. Consequently, people begin to experience a runny nose, a sore throat, sneezing, and coughing.
The common cold usually goes away on its own within seven to ten days without any special treatment. This is because the body’s immune system begins to fight off the virus. Since the virus causes the common cold, antibiotics cannot hasten recovery.
Why Antibiotics Do Not Work for Cold
Doctors prescribe antibiotics to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. They act on specific body parts of the bacteria within the cell. However, the virus has a completely different structure from that of bacteria.
Since a virus causes the common cold, antibiotics won’t kill the virus. Therefore, antibiotics fail to reduce the suffering duration of the common cold. In fact, the medicine causes unwanted side effects. However, doctors suggest not to take antibiotics unless the infection is caused by bacteria. Patients should try antibiotics to maintain their effectiveness.
Risks of Using Antibiotics Unnecessarily
The use of antibiotics unnecessarily can cause various health challenges.
- The first is bacterial resistance. Resistance in bacteria means that bacteria have learned to survive despite applying antibiotics. Misuse of antibiotics can make bacteria more resistant and harder to treat in the future. This is the meaning of bacterial resistance. Today, doctors consider bacterial resistance a serious global health problem.
- The second problem that may arise from the misuse of antibiotics is the side effects of the drugs. Some people may complain of stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or allergic reactions after using antibiotics. These are the main reasons doctors never prescribe antibiotics for the common cold.
When Antibiotics Can Help
Even though antibiotics cannot cure a cold, doctors can prescribe them if a bacterial infection develops. There are cases when a viral infection compromises the immune system.
Examples of such infections are Sinusitis, Pneumonia, Bacterial Tonsillitis, and many more. In such cases, antibiotics may help clear the infection. Before administering medicine, doctors examine the patient’s symptoms. Prolonged high fever, severe chest pain, and difficulty breathing may be signs of complications. A doctor examines the patient to ascertain whether they can prescribe antibiotics.
Take Antibiotics Responsibly
Here are three key things patients must remember when they are thinking of taking antibiotics:
- Always listen to the doctors: Only experienced doctors can tell you whether you are sick from a virus or bacteria. They prescribe antibiotics if needed.
- Follow medical instructions properly: Always stick to the medicines your doctor prescribes and complete the course. An incomplete or improper medication course might lead to future health issues.
- Never share your antibiotics with others: Do not share antibiotics with anyone. You don’t know his/her medical history or the real cause of their illness. Let the expert doctors decide which medicine or antibiotic they must take to treat cough and cold.
When to See a Doctor
Most cases of colds resolve in a week or two without medical intervention. However, there are symptoms that need medical attention. For example, a high fever lasting more than a few days could be a sign of another infection.
Severe ear pain, breathing difficulties, or chest pain should not be disregarded. These symptoms could mean that the infection is complicated or that the cold is not the real cause of the illness. A medical expert should be consulted for proper evaluation and treatment of the symptoms. Parents should seek medical attention for unusual symptoms in young children. Symptoms in infants and older adults should be closely monitored.
Conclusion
Antibiotics do not treat the common cold. This is because the common cold is caused by a virus. Antiviral medicine is not used to treat the common cold. Antibiotics have unwanted effects when used to treat the common cold.
To treat the common cold, one should get plenty of rest. Rest is the best medicine for the common cold. Responsible use of antibiotics helps protect their effectiveness for future treatments.