Coughs, Colds, and Antibiotics
The common cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, occurs more than 1 billion times each year in the United States. Most adults can expect to have 4 to 6 colds per year. Children often have more than 9 colds per year, especially if they attend child-care facilities, where they are exposed to other children with colds. This article talks about upper respiratory tract infections and proper use of antibiotics.
Colds are caused by viruses. Cold viruses can be spread through the air by droplets from a sneeze or cough but are primarily spread by touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after contact (for example, shaking hands) with someone who has the cold virus. You do not catch a cold from exposure to cold weather or by being chilled or overheated. Two or three days after infection with a cold virus, symptoms develop. Runny nose, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, scratchy throat, mild fatigue, slight fever, and dry cough are all symptoms of a common cold. You are infectious (can spread the cold) to other people before you know you have a cold.
Wash your hands frequently, especially if you or your children have a cold.
Avoid close contact with anybody who has a cold.
Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze from a cold and throw the tissue away immediately.
Wash your hands after blowing your nose or sneezing into your hand.
Stay at home and rest if you have a cold. Your body needs rest to recover from a cold, and you can avoid giving the cold to others.
Antibiotics are not useful for treating colds because they only kill bacteria, not viruses. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major factor in causing bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics that previously were able to kill them. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem around the world. Bacteria with antibiotic resistance can cause serious illness and death.
Do not ask your doctor for antibiotics if you have a cold.
If antibiotics are prescribed for a bacterial infection, take them exactly as you are instructed. It is important to take the full course of antibiotics.
Do not share antibiotics with anyone else.
Do not take antibiotics as a preventive measure against bacterial infection when you have a cold. This does not help you prevent a bacterial infection.
Usually cold symptoms last for 1 to 2 weeks, although chest colds (bronchitis) typically last 2 to 3 weeks. If your symptoms are not improving after 1 to 2 weeks, you may have an allergy, a complication of a cold, or some other reason for your symptoms. You should contact your doctor if your cold symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, or anytime during your illness if you develop a high fever; have difficulty breathing or swallowing; or experience severe headache, severe fatigue, or a rash.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cold.htm
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/antimicro.htmParkinson's Disease Foundation
800/457-6676
http://www.pdf.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org Click here to download a copy of this article.
<< Back to article index...
Two Offices conveniently located to serve you.
Janet Torpy, MD, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2003;289(20):2750. doi:10.1001/jama.289.20.2619.
JAMA. 2003;289(20):2750. doi:10.1001/jama.289.20.2619.
The common cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, occurs more than 1 billion times each year in the United States. Most adults can expect to have 4 to 6 colds per year. Children often have more than 9 colds per year, especially if they attend child-care facilities, where they are exposed to other children with colds. This article talks about upper respiratory tract infections and proper use of antibiotics.
COLD FACTS
Colds are caused by viruses. Cold viruses can be spread through the air by droplets from a sneeze or cough but are primarily spread by touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after contact (for example, shaking hands) with someone who has the cold virus. You do not catch a cold from exposure to cold weather or by being chilled or overheated. Two or three days after infection with a cold virus, symptoms develop. Runny nose, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, scratchy throat, mild fatigue, slight fever, and dry cough are all symptoms of a common cold. You are infectious (can spread the cold) to other people before you know you have a cold.
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COLDS
ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics are not useful for treating colds because they only kill bacteria, not viruses. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major factor in causing bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics that previously were able to kill them. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem around the world. Bacteria with antibiotic resistance can cause serious illness and death.
PREVENT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Usually cold symptoms last for 1 to 2 weeks, although chest colds (bronchitis) typically last 2 to 3 weeks. If your symptoms are not improving after 1 to 2 weeks, you may have an allergy, a complication of a cold, or some other reason for your symptoms. You should contact your doctor if your cold symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, or anytime during your illness if you develop a high fever; have difficulty breathing or swallowing; or experience severe headache, severe fatigue, or a rash.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cold.htm
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/antimicro.htm
800/457-6676
http://www.pdf.org
http://www.aap.org Click here to download a copy of this article.
<< Back to article index...
Two Offices conveniently located to serve you.
MIAMI - 1880 W 49 St. Suite 510, Hialeah, FL 33012. Telephone (305) 821-4555, FAX (305) 821-4563
PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.
PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.