Call 911 if you experience trouble breathing.
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Do Antibiotics Treat Upper Respiratory Infections?
Antibiotics do not treat most upper respiratory infections.
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This is because URIs are usually sparked by viruses, like rhinovirus, coronavirus, or influenza.
Your healthcare provider may decide antibiotics are needed if:
What Are Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms?
When Are Antibiotics Prescribed for a Cold?
Antibiotics may be helpful if common cold symptoms last for more than 10 days, the Cochrane report found.
The sinuses are hollow cavities in the bones of your face around your forehead and cheekbones.
Symptoms of sinusitis include pain, pressure, and tenderness of the areas of the face over the sinuses.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic if youve had a sinus infection for more than 10 days.
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is a lower respiratory tract infection.
This infection is usually due to viruses, not bacteria, but can lead to secondary bacterial infections.
Sore throats are common in colds, but a severe sore throat could be sparked by a bacterial infection.
Strep throat, medically known as streptococcal pharyngitis, is a sore throat triggered by infection by streptococcal bacteria.
Once diagnosed, it is usually treated withpenicillin.
Ear Infection
Otitis media is the medical term for anear infectionthat causes pain.
Sometimes, a cold can lead to the development of otitis media.
Antibiotics may help resolve otitis media if pain relievers and decongestants dont do the trick.
Antibiotic use guidelines forchildren with ear infectionsdiffer based on their age and symptoms.
Tracheitis is an infection of the trachea.
Tracheitis may occur as a complication of a viral URI and is most common in very young children.
This infection is usually caused byStaphylococcus aureusbacteria.
Due to the development and routine administration of theH.
influenzaevaccineover the past 30 years, the incidence of this infection has dropped substantially.
Overuse of Antibiotics
Overuse and overprescription of antibiotics leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Antibiotics kill bacteria that are sensitive to them but leave some bacteria that have developed defenses to them.
These resistant bacteria then multiply and the antibiotic is ineffective.
A different antibiotic may need to be used.
This is a global health threat.
Antibiotics can have nasty side effects for the person taking them.
Antibiotics also kill friendly bacteria in the gut that are needed for digestion.
This disruption can result inantibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Second- and third-line treatments may be needed if the bacteria is resistant to the usual first-line antibiotic.
These carry an increased risk of side effects.
There are manyside effects of antibiotics.
Some are common, and others can be severe and potentially deadly.
The most common reason for the visit among children was an adverse reaction to antibiotics.
Theyll also let you know if you should continue taking it or stop.
Most colds are resulting from viruses, which can’t be treated with antibiotics.
Even minor bacterial infections don’t usually need antibiotics.
Certain bacterial infections like strep throat may also require antibiotics.
For mild upper respiratory infections, rest and self-care are usually enough.
Over-the-counter medications like decongestants and pain relievers can help limit your symptoms while you recover.
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