Health Information - Antibiotics & Viruses

This distinction is important. The overuse of antibiotics in treating upper respiratory viral infections is one reason for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria during the past 20 years.

Upper Respiratory Infections
Colds and flu are typically referred to as upper respiratory infections because most symptoms occur in the upper respiratory tract. Common symptoms are nasal congestion with drainage, sore throat, cough, ear and sinus pressure, fever, generalized aches, and a "run-down" feeling. They may cause varying degrees of sleep disturbance, resulting in additional fatigue.

Upper respiratory infections are very common in young children and in families with young children. They are less common in adults who do not have frequent contact with children.

Prevention
In otherwise healthy adults, the best ways to prevent upper respiratory infections are to:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
• Use hand sanitizers.
• Use paper towels rather than shared cloth towels.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Avoid eating or drinking after other people.
• Get a flu shot when possible.
• Avoid contact with people who have a cold or the flu.

Treatment
When an upper respiratory infection occurs, most of us must deal with symptoms for which there is no known cure, and we have only a moderate degree of symptom control.

Healthy people can fight off most upper respiratory viruses by ….

• Getting adequate rest and sleep.
• Drinking plenty of fluids.
• Not smoking!
• Using over-the-counter cold and flu medications to relieve symptoms until the illness runs its course.

Be careful when selecting and using over-the-counter medications. Manufacturers frequently combine several medications into a single pill, capsule, or liquid preparation for the convenience of customers. The result is a confusing array of products on the drug store shelf.

The potential danger lies in accidental overdosing of certain ingredients, which can easily occur when you use more than one product at the same time. Examples of some of the more common components to watch out for include acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, and dextromethorphan.

Consumers should always ask a pharmacist which product is best for specific symptoms and which drug combinations to avoid. They also should ask whether over-the-counter medicines may interact with their prescriptions. Should you see a doctor when you have an upper respiratory infection? It depends. Call your doctor if…

• You have difficulty breathing.
• Symptoms become worse or do not improve after a week to 10 days.
• Severe ear or throat pain develops.
• A fever of more than 101 degrees lasts longer than 48 hours.

When your doctor or other health care provider prescribes an antibiotic, take it exactly as directed. Don't save part of it for self treatment at a later date.

Underlying Health Problems
Some people with underlying health problems may need to consult their health care provider sooner rather than later. They include those with…

• Diabetes
• Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, persistent asthma and other significant lung conditions
• Immune system problems

With diabetes, your blood glucose may run higher than usual and fluctuate more during viral infections. You should check your blood glucose more frequently and be prepared to change your usual treatment based on advice from your doctor. People with significant, underlying lung conditions may have greater difficulty breathing, and an early visit to the doctor is appropriate. People with immune system dysfunction are at higher risk for complications and should consult their physician early in their illness. Others at higher risk are those receiving some of the new biological disease modifying treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, people undergoing long-term steroid therapy, and those with HIV-related conditions.

Recovery
We all want to get well, feel better, and resume normal activities as soon as possible. The symptoms of most common colds generally go away within a week, or occasionally longer. Influenza, however, may produce a hacking cough and other symptoms that continue for two to three weeks.

If you are accustomed to frequent, intense physical exertion, postpone activities until you have fully recovered. Use common sense when resuming your exercise program, and don't expect to reach your best pre-illness performance right away. In rare situations, colds or flu may be complicated by viral myocarditis, an inflammatory condition of the heart muscle and its covering tissue. Symptoms usually include profound weakness in response to attempted exercise (often as little as simply climbing stairs), sharp pain in the mid-chest, irregular heartbeat or persistent high heart rate, and lingering fatigue. See your doctor if you experience these symptoms.

In most cases, this rare condition resolves itself when the patient limits activities and takes anti-inflammatory medications. However, significant complications are possible and strenuous physical exertion should be avoided.