• Can a viral cold and cough be treated without antibiotics?

Every time my daughter has cold and cough the doctor gives her antibiotics. Is there a way to treat viral cough and cold without any antibiotics?

5 Answers

  • Infectious Disease Specialist
  • Pittsburgh, PA

Antibiotics are not indicated for viral cold and cough unless you have a superimposed bacterial infection, consult your doctor before taking antibiotics .

  • Infectious Disease Specialist
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota

In the absence of fever or symptoms lasting 8 days or more, antibiotics are not indicated.

  • Infectious Disease Specialist
  • Miami, FL

Viral colds should not be treated with antibiotics since these medicines have no activity against the virus and the viral infection is generally ended within several days.

G dickinson

  • Infectious Disease Specialist
  • Concord, CA

Viral upper respiratory infections (URI’s/colds) are caused by a variety of viruses. They should never be treated with antibiotics that are only effective against bacteria, not viruses. Antiviral drugs are not recommended for URI’s as they are uniformly self- limited. If her doctor always treats viral URI’s with antibiotics, find a new doctor.

  • Infectious Disease Specialist
  • Orlando, FL

Antibiotics do not work for any viral infection and may cause more problems with development of resistant bacterial infections

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