Antibiotics Don't Cure Runny Noses

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Most people who have runny noses with colored discharge (yellow or green mucus) -- a common cold symptom -- shouldn't be given antibiotics, says a review of published research published in the British Medical Journal's online edition July 20. The common cold is caused by many different viruses, which are not affected by antibiotics. The review found that for every one person who was helped by antibiotics, six people were not. Giving antibiotics unnecessarily can cause bacteria to become resistant to the drugs.

What is the Specialist's Reaction?

An article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) supports our many years of thinking about the common cold. Most patients with acute purulent rhinitis (a runny nose with colored discharge) will get better without antibiotics. Although the recent BMJ study suggests that there was some benefit to an antibiotic given at five to eight days of illness, it appeared that six patients got no improvement from an antibiotic for every one that did.

Current recommendations advise against giving antibiotics to people with acute purulent rhinitis. Using an antibiotic for an infection usually caused by a virus is not only unnecessary, but also worrisome. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance. If antibiotics lose their effectiveness in fighting different diseases and infections, patients with serious conditions may be left with limited treatment options.

Everyone has one to three colds each year. Many different viruses can cause a cold. People with colds may have stuffy noses, sneezing, scratchy throats, hoarse voices, dry coughs (usually from mucus dripping down the throat), and slight fevers. Most people with cold symptoms keep up with their usual activities and get better completely within five days, though sometimes the symptoms can last up to two weeks.

Antibiotics are probably effective in treating acute purulent rhinitis in some circumstances. However, doctors today are prescribing antibiotics for patients far too often and too early in the course of illness. Colored discharge (green or yellow mucus) alone is not a serious enough reason to justify the use of antibiotics. Besides, there are also side effects reported with antibiotic use. The authors say that antibiotics should only be used when symptoms have persisted long enough to be a concern.

What Changes can be Made Now?

The common cold most often is spread by:

* Direct contact with the respiratory secretions of someone who is infected, usually passed from one person's hand to another. The second person then touches his or her eyes or nose, spreading the virus there, where it can cause infection.
* Touching a surface, such as a tabletop or doorknob, that was recently touched by an infected person, and then touching your eyes or nose.
* Breathing in the air after an infected person has coughed or sneezed.

Many people are diagnosed with purulent rhinitis when they observe signs of a runny nose, colored discharge, congestion, and sneezing. It is most important that you understand how to prevent, identify, and treat a cold using non-antibiotic methods.
Some ways to make your cold symptoms a little more manageable without using antibiotics include:

* Drinking enough fluids
* Getting plenty of rest
* Gargling with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat
* Inhaling steam to reduce nasal congestion
* Using over-the-counter cold remedies, such as decongestants and cough suppressants, to help relieve congestion and cough.

If you experience a high fever, severe sinus pain, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, you either have something other than a cold or a serious complication. You should contact your doctor as soon as you can to take care of these new problems.

In the end, since prevention truly is the best medicine, it is ideal to always use good hygiene and practice regular house cleaning to help prevent respiratory illnesses. In addition, you can avoid getting a cold by:

* Cleaning your hands often
* Carefully disposing of all used tissues
* Avoiding rubbing your eyes and nose
* Exercising regularly; people who exercise regularly have fewer colds each year than those who are less active
* Avoiding close, prolonged exposure to people who have colds
* Regularly wiping down all surfaces, including toys, with a virus-killing disinfectant

What can be Expected Looking to the Future?

We can expect a more efficient use of antibiotics, now that additional research has been reviewed to better understand the pros and cons of antibiotic use with colds or purulent rhinitis.

We can also look forward to better and more frequent uses of prevention techniques to make sure we minimize our chances of catching a cold in the first place. National organizations are creating campaigns to educate all of us about different ways we can avoid and treat colds or purulent rhinitis.
It is virtually impossible to make a vaccine that will protect us from the huge number of types and strains of viruses that cause acute purulent rhinitis.