November 15, 2003
CDC advises parents about colds, flu and antibiotics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has news for parents this cold and flu season: antibiotics don't work for a cold or the flu.
Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. And colds, flu and most sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics don't touch viruses _ never have, never will. And it's not really news. It's a long-documented medical fact.
"Antibiotics show amazing results when used to treat bacterial infections, but they won't help at all against the common cold or flu," Surgeon General Richard Carmona said. "What's worse, if people take antibiotics when they don't need them, it can make these important drugs less effective in the future."
Risk of antibiotic-resistanceThe problem is, taking antibiotics when they are not needed can do more harm than good. Widespread inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling an increase in drug- resistant bacteria. And sick individuals aren't the only people who can suffer the consequences. Families and entire communities feel the impact when disease- causing germs become resistant to antibiotics.
The most obvious consequence of inappropriate antibiotic use is its effect on the sick patient. When antibiotics are incorrectly used to treat children or adults with viral infections, such as colds and flu, they aren't getting the best care for their condition. A course of antibiotics won't fight the virus, make the patient feel better, yield a quicker recovery or keep others from getting sick.
A less obvious consequence of antibiotic overuse is the boost it gives to drug- resistant disease-causing bacteria. Over the last decade, almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it really is needed. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates and co-workers _ threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat.
"Antibiotics are powerful drugs. In fact, sometimes we imagine they are wonder drugs that can treat any infections," said CDC Director Julie Gerberding, M.D. "But the truth is antibiotics only work against bacteria, not the viruses that cause colds and flu," she added.
According to the CDC, antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing public health problems. Americans of all ages can lower this risk by talking to their doctors and using antibiotics appropriately during this cold and flu season.
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