Antibiotics Should Not Be Prescribed for Running Noses

Sharon Moore November 19, 2013

Antibiotics are not the solution for running noses and green phlegm as they are often caused by viruses, not bacteria. Worse, using antibiotics may only lead to resistance, health experts warned.

Research by the Public Health England and the Royal College of General Practitioners revealed that 40 per cent of people thought antibiotics would help a cough if the phlegm was green, whilst a few thought it would make a difference to clear-coloured phlegm. But according to Dr Cliodna McNulty of the Public Health England, most infections that generate phlegm and snot are viral illnesses and will get better in time.

"The problems of antibiotic resistance are growing. Everyone can help by not using antibiotics for the treatment of uncomplicated infections." she said. Dr McNulty added that taking antibiotics affect trillions of bacteria that naturally live in the body and are necessary to fight infections and other illnesses.

"Infections adapt to antibiotics used to kill them and can ultimately make treatment ineffective so it’s crucial that antibiotics are used appropriately." said Dr Maureen Baker, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs. She explained that the green colour of the phlegm and snot is the result of a protein made by the immune system to fight infection.

Antibiotic overuse – a serious public health concern

There’s no doubt that antibiotics are important medicines. They help fight infections that are caused by bacteria. However, incorrect use of these medications could lead to antibiotic resistance in which case the drug is no longer effective.

Earlier this year, Chief Medical Officer for England Dame Sally Davies said that antibiotic resistance should be ranked along with terrorism on a list of threats to the nation. "If we don’t take action, then we may all be back in an almost 19th Century environment where infections kill us as a result of routine operations. We won’t be able to do a lot of our cancer treatments or organ transplants." she told BBC.

Yesterday, 18^th November, the European Antibiotic Awareness Day was held. This Europe-wide public health initiative is aimed to increase awareness on the proper use of antibiotics, which is a major issue for patients’ safety. According to health experts, infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a leading cause of the increased levels in death and diseases, as well as the length of time patients spend in hospitals. Furthermore, inappropriate use of antibiotics may increasingly cause patients to become infected with resistant bacteria.

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Antibiotics not for running noses, warn doctors