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Asked by jilsejoshy to Sally, Rob, Matt, Marikka, Ceri on 7 Nov 2014.
Question: Other than antibiotics, what is the best way to treat a cold?
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Sally Cutler answered on 7 Nov 2014:
Hi, microbes come in different types and you will find most colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are agents used to kill or inhibit bacteria whilst antivirals will inhibit viruses. From this you will see that antibiotics are not good to treat a cold, but sometimes the viral infection is followed by a bacterial one, and this is when antibiotics are best used. Scientists have been researching into vaccines that might prevent colds – watch this space!
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Robert Hampson answered on 7 Nov 2014:
Generally speaking, if the patient is fit and healthy, a cold doesn’t require treatment. There is some evidence to suggest that the occasional minor illness like a cold is good for your long term well being. It kind of exercises your immune system.
A cold is essentially a minor infection of your throat. Most common colds are caused by viruses (which, as Sally correctly pointed out, would be entirely unaffected by antibiotics). Some are very occasionally caused by bacteria or a bacterial infection can follow the cold. At this point, antibiotics would work but the evidence shows this reduces the length of the colds symptoms only by hours.
Using antibiotics for minor illnesses has been contributing to antibiotic resistance around the world. If we keep commonly prescribing them for minor illnesses when we really need them for a major epidemic or sickness they will no longer work.
The best treatment for the common cold depends on the stage. Early on, when you have a sore throat, throat lozenges like strepsils can help, if you later get a headache then painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol are best. In the final stages where you have a blocked nose, menthol or olbas oil, or some drugs called decongestants can help. All of these treat the symptoms and not the cause which is the virus/bacteria. They can still make you more comfortable though.
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Ceri Dare answered on 7 Nov 2014:
Antibiotics will not help if you have a cold – see this funny video about a poorly duck: http://www.nhs.uk/Video/Pages/take-care-not-antibiotics-duck.aspx
The best way to avoid getting a cold is to wash your hands regularly. Also make sure you keep as fit and healthy as possible, eat good food with plenty of fruit and vegetables, and don’t smoke.
If your doctor says you should have a flu immunisation, definitely do that – I got the flu a week before my immunisation was due this year, felt terrible and stayed in bed for ten days!If you do have a cold, then you need to let your body’s immune system fight it. It will probably make you feel better if you have plenty to drink, maybe some paracetamol, and something to distract you – I like watching old episodes of Doctor Who when I am feeling poorly. There’s a list of ways to look after yourself when you have a cold here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/surviving-the-cold-and-flu-season-without-antibiotics
Even if you have green snot, this isn’t a sign that you need antibiotics – it is a sign that your immune system is busy beating up the nasty viruses which are making you ill – see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-phlegm-and-snot-not-always-a-sign-of-an-infection-needing-antibiotics
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Marikka Beecroft answered on 10 Nov 2014:
Hi, first of all nice to meet you and good question!
Antibiotics should not be used to treat a cold and the reason for this is because antibiotics treat bacteria so wouldn’t affect colds as it is a virus. You can get a bacterial infection after you get a cold and that’s when you should be prescribed antibiotics. For a viral infection you can be given anti-viral drugs but they are still being created for colds so it’ll be a while before we can treat them!
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