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 four to six colds per year. Children often have more than nine colds per year, especially if they attend child-care facilities, where they are exposed to other children with colds. The May 28, 2003, issue of JAMA includes an article 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

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

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

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 one to two weeks, although chest colds (bronchitis) typically last two to three weeks. If your symptoms are not improving after one to two 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 two 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

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cold.htm
www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/antimicro.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics
www.aap.org

Inform Yourself

To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA’s Web site at www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish.

Related JAMA Patient Pages

JAMA Patient Page: Strep Throat (December 13, 2000)
Janet Torpy, M.D., Writer
Cassio Lynm, M.A., Illustrator
Richard M. Glass, M.D., Editor

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.