Antibiotics Not Needed for Common Cold or Flu

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

My daughter has a bad cold, so I took her to the doctor, but he did not give her any antibiotics.

Signed,

Why

Dear Why,

Antibiotics kill bacteria, but not viruses such as the common cold or flu. Someone with a cold or flu will get better in a few days to a week. There is a saying that colds will get better in a week with antibiotics or 7 days without it.

However, it is best to not prescribe antibiotics if they are not needed. Over-prescribing antibiotics has caused antibiotic resistant bacteria or Superbugs. When this happens, antibiotics become less effective or ineffective in treating the conditions for what they were intended.