Antibiotics vs self medication: which is best to treat a flu?

You have a sore throat and a runny nose, so is it time for an antibiotic, or should you try to fight your flu symptoms with over-the-counter flu remedies?

First, it’s important to know that common colds and flu are upper respiratory tract infections caused by a virus, and while antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, they are unfortunately not effective against viruses like the common cold and the flu.

Most sore throats are generally not serious and usually improve within a week. People often think that having a clear nasal discharge that changes to yellow-green and developing a cough is a sign of a secondary bacterial infection, but this is not always the case.

While some of the symptoms of cold and flu are a nuisance, they are your body’s response to the infection and actually help to fight it. Using antibiotics for non-severe viral upper respiratory tract infections increases antibiotic resistance, which has become a major health problem worldwide. As a result, most bacteria have become stronger and won’t respond as well to antibiotic treatment as it should.

For infections where your doctor does prescribe an antibiotic, it is important that you take the medicine exactly as instructed. Don’t skip doses and be sure to finish the course, even if you are feeling better. Don’t save some of your antibiotics for the next time you get sick. It’s also important that you don’t share antibiotics with anyone else, because the antibiotic may not be the right drug for their illness. They may be allergic and may even delay them getting better.

When you have a cold or flu, resting and using over-the-counter medications to treat your symptoms can go a long way to helping you feel better.

Adcock ingram’s Corenza Para-C effervescent is an effective multi-action cold and flu fighter. It is non-sedating and provides relief of mild to moderate pain and fever, blocked nose and sinus congestion associated with colds and flu. It’s suitable for patients who can’t tolerate aspirin or suffer from dyspepsia, peptic ulcers and renal dysfunction. plus, it’s sugar free. so, while it won’t prevent you getting a cold or flu, it will help you feel much better while your body fights  the infection.