Do you take antibiotics every time you have a cold? Then you should stop immediately and read this. Antibiotics are effective medications for treating bacterial infections. Using antibiotics to treat common cold is a common misconception that contributes to antibiotic resistance and other health complications. Understanding why antibiotics are not effective for colds and the potential risks of misusing them is critical to public health. Common cold is one of the most widespread human diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide each year. It is characterised by symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, congestion and sneezing, and is primarily caused by viral infections.
What causes the common cold? Rhinoviruses are the most common culprit of the common cold, accounting for up to 50% of all cases. These viruses thrive in the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat, and are highly contagious. There are over 100 different serotypes of rhinoviruses, which is why people can get colds multiple times throughout their lives.
While certain Coronavirus types such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are known to cause severe respiratory syndromes, several others cause mild respiratory infections, including the common cold. These account for about 10-15% of cold cases. These viruses are also highly transmissible and can cause seasonal outbreaks.
RSV is an important cause of respiratory infections, especially in children, and can also cause colds in adults. This virus is known to cause severe respiratory illness in infants and young children, but can also cause typical cold symptoms in older people.
Adenoviruses can cause several illnesses, including the common cold, especially in children. Enteroviruses, which include the coxsackieviruses, can also cause cold-like symptoms. While these viruses are less common, they still contribute to the overall incidence of colds.
Cold viruses are mainly transmitted through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by others or land on surfaces where the virus can survive for several hours. Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face, especially your nose or mouth, can lead to infection.
The common cold is caused by viruses, most commonly rhinoviruses. Antibiotics, on the other hand, target bacteria. This fundamental difference means that antibiotics do not affect viruses, including those that cause colds. Taking antibiotics when you have a viral infection is not only ineffective, but also unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Only a healthcare professional can definitively diagnose a bacterial infection. Doctors can perform a physical exam and may recommend tests. If cold symptoms last for more than 10 days without improvement, it usually indicates a bacterial infection. If you experience severe symptoms, difficulty breathing or chest pain, or if symptoms do not improve after a week, you should see a doctor.
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