Should you take antibiotics if you have a cold?

It doesn't make sense to use antibiotics in the treatment of simple common colds: They don’t relieve symptoms like a stuffy nose and sore throat or make the cold go away any faster, but they often cause various side effects.

Simple common colds – with symptoms such as coughing, a stuffy nose and sometimes a mild fever – are usually caused by viruses. They almost always go away on their own within about two weeks, and often start to get better after just a few days.

Because antibiotics only fight bacteria, and not viruses, they're ineffective against colds caused by viruses. If a cold leads to a bacterial infection, it may be a good idea to use antibiotics. That is why they are sometimes prescribed as a preventive measure. But because colds almost always clear up on their own without any serious problems, and antibiotics often cause side effects, the pros and cons of using antibiotics need to be carefully considered.

Researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration – an international research network – specifically looked for studies in this area. They found a total of eleven studies involving nearly 2,000 adults, teenagers and children with a simple cold who were generally otherwise healthy.