Common Cold does not Merit Antibiotics

Common cold and running nose in children does not merit the prescription of antibiotics, researchers have advised. In effect, antibiotics should be administered only if the child's condition worsens. Antibiotics are known to cause potential side effects.

Antibiotics consumption at every small pretext, has led to the rise of germs, nicknamed as super bugs that are able to defeat even the most potent antibiotics. When researchers prescribed antibiotics for conditions such as cold, it was seen that for each case that improved there were six who did not respond to the drug.

The researchers opined "Our summation would be to suggest initial management by non-antibiotic treatments or "watchful waiting" and that antibiotic should be used only when symptoms have persisted for long enough to concern parents or patients."