"I am feeling the start of a sore throat. I need an antibiotic now, so I can nip this infection in the bud."

WRONG!
Most sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections.

"My cough will not last as long if I take an antibiotic for my bronchitis."

WRONG!
The cough associated with bronchitis will last two to four weeks with or without antibiotics.

"I know I need an antibiotic because my mucus is yellow or green."

WRONG!
Despite what we were previously taught, yellow or green mucus does not indicate a bacterial infection or a need for antibiotics.

"I took antibiotics for these symptoms in the past, and I felt better, so I know antibiotics will help me now."

WRONG!
A viral infection does not respond to antibiotics. You felt better because your body fought off the virus, which it will do eventually.

"Antibiotics help cure bronchitis, chest colds, upper respiratory infections and common colds."

WRONG!
Viruses cause more than 90% of all bronchitis, colds and upper respiratory infections. Therefore, antibiotics will not cure 90% of these infections.

"My cold will become a sinus infection if I don't take an antibiotic."

WRONG!
Only 2% of colds will develop into a bacterial sinus infection.

Causes of Infections

There are two causes of infections: bacteria and viruses.

Infections caused by bacteria need to be treated with antibiotics.

Infections caused by viruses, like colds or the flu, will not be helped at all by taking antibiotics.

In fact, taking an antibiotic when it is not needed may lead to unwanted side effects. All medications have potential side effects. Unnecessary use of antibiotics also increases your risk of developing an allergic reaction to the medication or antibiotic resistance.

Many bacteria can adapt to their environment and become resistant to certain antibiotics. Taking antibiotics when you do not need them can cause antibiotics not to work when you do need them.

Bacteria vs. Viruses

So how do you know if bacteria or a virus caused your infection? The following are some basic guidelines:

Colds and flu:
Viruses cause these illnesses. They cannot be cured with antibiotics.

Cough or bronchitis:
Viruses almost always cause these infections. However, if you have a chronic lung condition or the symptoms persist for a long period of time, you may need to see a physician to rule out a secondary bacterial infection.

Sore throat:
Most sore throats are caused by viruses and do not need antibiotics.

However, there is a form of strep throat that is caused by a bacteria and does need to be treated with antibiotics. A Rapid Strep test is a throat swab that can be done during your visit to the University Health Services (UHS) to determine if your sore throat requires antibiotic treatment.

Ear infections:
There are several types of ear infections. Antibiotics are used for some, but not all. Your ear needs to be examined by your health care provider to determine which kind of ear infection may be causing your pain. Outer ear, middle ear and inner ear infections need to be treated differently.

Sinus infections:
Antibiotics are often needed to treat sinus infections. However, there is excellent evidence that yellow or green mucus actually does not indicate a bacterial infection. So if you have yellow or green mucous, don't automatically think you have a sinus infection caused by bacteria.

If you are unsure whether a bacteria or a virus caused your infection, a visit to your primary care provider or UHS may be indicated. Sometimes, a careful physical exam can determine the cause of your infection. If not, your health care provider may need to order a throat culture or blood test. You are fortunate because UHS can do these tests in their lab during your visit. You will have your results and the appropriate treatment before you leave that day.

Recovering from a Viral Infection

Now, we have determined that you have a viral infection. And now that we all agree that viruses do not respond to antibiotics, there are still a number of things that you can do to speed your recovery:

Rest.
You do not have to stay in bed, but you should limit your activity as much as possible. The energy used for physical activity could have been used by your body to fight the infection.

Drink lots of fluids.
It is not necessary to eat if you have no appetite, but you should drink fluids to help control the fever and reduce aches and pains.

Take cough suppressants.
Taking a cough suppressant in the evening may help produce a good night's sleep.

Run a humidifier to help relieve a dry, hacking cough.
If you do not have a humidifier, you can run a hot shower and inhale the warm, wet air.

Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help control pain or fever.
You should not take aspirin with a viral infection.

Practice good hygiene.
To help prevent the spread of the virus, wash your hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth when sneezing, and do not share items such as toothbrushes and drinking containers.