Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDo Antibiotics Treat Upper Respiratory Infections?What Are Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms?Why Antibiotics Are Not NeededWhen Are Antibiotics Prescribed for a Cold?Overuse of AntibioticsHome Remedies for a ColdManaging Antibiotic Side EffectsSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Do Antibiotics Treat Upper Respiratory Infections?
What Are Upper Respiratory Infection Symptoms?
Why Antibiotics Are Not Needed
When Are Antibiotics Prescribed for a Cold?
Overuse of Antibiotics
Home Remedies for a Cold
Managing Antibiotic Side Effects
Summary
While there is generally no need to see a healthcare provider for a URI, you should call your provider if you develop a fever, increased mucus in your cough, a rash, you seem to be getting sicker, or you are in a high-risk group (such as being immunocompromised, pregnant, or over 65). Call 911 if you experience trouble breathing.
This article explores the use of antibiotics for treating upper respiratory infections, and when these medications should and should not be used to treat the common cold.
Steve Prezant/Getty
Antibiotics may help bacterial infections, but in most cases, it is better to let a cold simply run its course. Your healthcare provider may decide antibiotics are needed if:
Common cold symptomsinclude:
Fever is a rare symptom of the common cold in adults but may be more likely in children.
Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection can last up to two weeks but usually peak at around three days and are gone within seven.Most upper respiratory infections should clear up on their own without interventions from your healthcare provider.
A Cochrane report analyzing the available research into the use of antibiotics to treat colds, published in 2013, found that antibiotics do not work for the common cold, and side effects of antibiotics used for the common cold are common.
White, yellow, or even green (pus-colored) snot during your cold doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bacterial infection, so it isn’t a reason to ask for antibiotics.
There are only a few situations in which your healthcare provider might prescribe antibiotics when you’re dealing with a cold or flu. Usually, these are secondary bacterial infections that cause issues in the sinuses or other structures of the upper respiratory system.
Antibiotics may be helpful if common cold symptoms last for more than 10 days, the Cochrane report found.
Sinusitis
Asinus infection, or sinusitis, is the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the sinuses due to a viral or bacterial infection. The sinuses are hollow cavities in the bones of your face around your forehead and cheekbones.
Symptoms of sinusitis include pain, pressure, and tenderness of the areas of the face over the sinuses. You’ll also likely feel stuffed up, have greenish-colored snot, and have postnasal drip.You may have a fever, a headache in the front of your head, or bad breath.
To relieve symptoms, you may use Tylenol (acetaminophen) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain, decongestant or saline nasal sprays to remove congestion in the sinuses, and moist heat to relieve pressure.
Many cases of sinus infection clear up on their own without antibiotics.Healthcare providers want to prevent the side effects of antibiotics and the use of medication that isn’t needed. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic if you’ve had a sinus infection for more than 10 days.
Symptoms of a Sinus Infection
Bronchitis
Usually, treatment with antibiotics doesn’t shorten the course of bronchitis, so they’re not usually prescribed.There are a few cases in which antibiotics might be useful:
An Overview of Bronchitis
Strep Throat
Ear Infection
Otitis media is the medical term for anear infectionthat causes pain. Sometimes, a cold can lead to the development of otitis media.
Antibiotics may help resolve otitis media if pain relievers and decongestants don’t do the trick. Antibiotic use guidelines forchildren with ear infectionsdiffer based on their age and symptoms.
Other Infections
There are a few other reasons you might be prescribed antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection.
Due to the development and routine administration of theH. influenzaevaccineover the past 30 years, the incidence of this infection has dropped substantially.
Overuse and overprescription of antibiotics leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant infections. Antibiotics kill bacteria that are sensitive to them but leave some bacteria that have developed defenses to them. These resistant bacteria then multiply and the antibiotic is ineffective. A different antibiotic may need to be used.
Some bacteria can transfer this resistance to other bacteria, leading to antibiotics becoming less effective for other types of infections.As bacteria develop resistance to multiple antibiotics, it becomes more and more difficult to treat an infection. This is a global health threat.
Antibiotics can have nasty side effects for the person taking them. Antibiotics also kill friendly bacteria in the gut that are needed for digestion. This disruption can result inantibiotic-associated diarrhea. Second- and third-line treatments may be needed if the bacteria is resistant to the usual first-line antibiotic. These carry an increased risk of side effects.
Most colds will resolve at home with rest, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and home remedies such as:
Adults might use OTC cough and cold medicines for possible temporary symptom relief, but it is best to talk to a healthcare provider about which are appropriate for you and follow the directions. Children under 4 years should not use OTC cough and cold medication.Consult a healthcare provider for a child age 4 and older before giving them these products.
While there are some cases in which you may be prescribed antibiotics for a common cold, these medications aren’t harmless. There are manyside effects of antibiotics. Some are common, and others can be severe and potentially deadly.
In a dataset from 2013 and 2014, adverse drug reactions caused 4 out of every 1,000 emergency room visits each year. The most common reason for the visit among children was an adverse reaction to antibiotics.
If you or your child is experiencingside effects from a prescribed antibiotic, tell your healthcare provider to be certain it’s nothing to worry about. They’ll also let you know if you should continue taking it or stop.
If you’re taking antibiotics, here are a few things you can do tohelp ward off some side effects of antibiotics:
Can Probiotics Treat or Prevent Bacterial Infections?
When antibiotics are needed, it’s usually because you’ve developed a complication such as bronchitis or an ear infection. Certain bacterial infections like strep throat may also require antibiotics.
For mild upper respiratory infections, rest and self-care are usually enough. Over-the-counter medications like decongestants and pain relievers can help limit your symptoms while you recover.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaiser Permanente.Upper respiratory infection (cold): Care instructions.Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Smith TL, et al.International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021.Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021;11(3):213-739. doi:10.1002/alr.22741Bosch AATM, Biesbroek G, Trzcinski K, Sanders EAM, Bogaert D.Viral and bacterial interactions in the upper respiratory tract.PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(1):e1003057. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003057Kenealy T, Arroll B.Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(6):CD000247. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000247.pub3Peroš-Golubičić T, Tekavec-Trkanjec J.Upper respiratory tract infections.Textbook of Respiratory and Critical Care Infections. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers. 2015:16-29.Cleveland Clinic.Upper respiratory infectionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinus infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA.Antibiotics for acute bronchitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD000245. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub4Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-5.Norton L, Myers A.The treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis in young children.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;7(03):161-5. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.05.005Lieberthal AS, Carroll AE, Chonmaitree T, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute otitis media.Pediatrics. 2013;131(3):e964-99. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3488Baird SM, Marsh PA, Padiglione A, et al.Review of epiglottitis in the post Haemophilus influenzae type‐b vaccine era.ANZ J Surg. 2018;88(11):1135-40. doi:10.1111/ans.14787National Library of Medicine.Tracheitis.Baiu I, Melendez E.Epiglottitis.JAMA.2019;321(19):1946. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3468Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About antimicrobial resistance.Soukavong M, Kim J, Park K, et al.Signal detection of adverse drug reaction of amoxicillin using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database.J Korean Med Sci.2016;31(9):1355-61. doi:10.3346/jkms.2016.31.9.1355Shehab N, Lovegrove MC, Geller AI, Rose KO, Weidle NJ, Budnitz DS.US emergency department visits for outpatient adverse drug events, 2013-2014.JAMA.2016;316(20):2115–2125. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16201Issa I, Moucari R.Probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Do we have a verdict?.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(47):17788-17795. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17788
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaiser Permanente.Upper respiratory infection (cold): Care instructions.Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Smith TL, et al.International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021.Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021;11(3):213-739. doi:10.1002/alr.22741Bosch AATM, Biesbroek G, Trzcinski K, Sanders EAM, Bogaert D.Viral and bacterial interactions in the upper respiratory tract.PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(1):e1003057. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003057Kenealy T, Arroll B.Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(6):CD000247. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000247.pub3Peroš-Golubičić T, Tekavec-Trkanjec J.Upper respiratory tract infections.Textbook of Respiratory and Critical Care Infections. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers. 2015:16-29.Cleveland Clinic.Upper respiratory infectionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinus infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA.Antibiotics for acute bronchitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD000245. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub4Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-5.Norton L, Myers A.The treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis in young children.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;7(03):161-5. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.05.005Lieberthal AS, Carroll AE, Chonmaitree T, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute otitis media.Pediatrics. 2013;131(3):e964-99. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3488Baird SM, Marsh PA, Padiglione A, et al.Review of epiglottitis in the post Haemophilus influenzae type‐b vaccine era.ANZ J Surg. 2018;88(11):1135-40. doi:10.1111/ans.14787National Library of Medicine.Tracheitis.Baiu I, Melendez E.Epiglottitis.JAMA.2019;321(19):1946. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3468Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About antimicrobial resistance.Soukavong M, Kim J, Park K, et al.Signal detection of adverse drug reaction of amoxicillin using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database.J Korean Med Sci.2016;31(9):1355-61. doi:10.3346/jkms.2016.31.9.1355Shehab N, Lovegrove MC, Geller AI, Rose KO, Weidle NJ, Budnitz DS.US emergency department visits for outpatient adverse drug events, 2013-2014.JAMA.2016;316(20):2115–2125. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16201Issa I, Moucari R.Probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Do we have a verdict?.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(47):17788-17795. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17788
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kaiser Permanente.Upper respiratory infection (cold): Care instructions.Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Smith TL, et al.International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021.Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021;11(3):213-739. doi:10.1002/alr.22741Bosch AATM, Biesbroek G, Trzcinski K, Sanders EAM, Bogaert D.Viral and bacterial interactions in the upper respiratory tract.PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(1):e1003057. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003057Kenealy T, Arroll B.Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(6):CD000247. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000247.pub3Peroš-Golubičić T, Tekavec-Trkanjec J.Upper respiratory tract infections.Textbook of Respiratory and Critical Care Infections. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers. 2015:16-29.Cleveland Clinic.Upper respiratory infectionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinus infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA.Antibiotics for acute bronchitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD000245. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub4Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-5.Norton L, Myers A.The treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis in young children.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;7(03):161-5. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.05.005Lieberthal AS, Carroll AE, Chonmaitree T, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute otitis media.Pediatrics. 2013;131(3):e964-99. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3488Baird SM, Marsh PA, Padiglione A, et al.Review of epiglottitis in the post Haemophilus influenzae type‐b vaccine era.ANZ J Surg. 2018;88(11):1135-40. doi:10.1111/ans.14787National Library of Medicine.Tracheitis.Baiu I, Melendez E.Epiglottitis.JAMA.2019;321(19):1946. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3468Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About antimicrobial resistance.Soukavong M, Kim J, Park K, et al.Signal detection of adverse drug reaction of amoxicillin using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database.J Korean Med Sci.2016;31(9):1355-61. doi:10.3346/jkms.2016.31.9.1355Shehab N, Lovegrove MC, Geller AI, Rose KO, Weidle NJ, Budnitz DS.US emergency department visits for outpatient adverse drug events, 2013-2014.JAMA.2016;316(20):2115–2125. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16201Issa I, Moucari R.Probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Do we have a verdict?.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(47):17788-17795. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17788
Kaiser Permanente.Upper respiratory infection (cold): Care instructions.
Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Smith TL, et al.International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021.Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021;11(3):213-739. doi:10.1002/alr.22741
Bosch AATM, Biesbroek G, Trzcinski K, Sanders EAM, Bogaert D.Viral and bacterial interactions in the upper respiratory tract.PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(1):e1003057. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003057
Kenealy T, Arroll B.Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(6):CD000247. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000247.pub3
Peroš-Golubičić T, Tekavec-Trkanjec J.Upper respiratory tract infections.Textbook of Respiratory and Critical Care Infections. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers. 2015:16-29.
Cleveland Clinic.Upper respiratory infection
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Sinus infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection basics.
Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA.Antibiotics for acute bronchitis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD000245. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub4
Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-5.
Norton L, Myers A.The treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis in young children.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;7(03):161-5. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.05.005
Lieberthal AS, Carroll AE, Chonmaitree T, et al.The diagnosis and management of acute otitis media.Pediatrics. 2013;131(3):e964-99. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3488
Baird SM, Marsh PA, Padiglione A, et al.Review of epiglottitis in the post Haemophilus influenzae type‐b vaccine era.ANZ J Surg. 2018;88(11):1135-40. doi:10.1111/ans.14787
National Library of Medicine.Tracheitis.
Baiu I, Melendez E.Epiglottitis.JAMA.2019;321(19):1946. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3468
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About antimicrobial resistance.
Soukavong M, Kim J, Park K, et al.Signal detection of adverse drug reaction of amoxicillin using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database.J Korean Med Sci.2016;31(9):1355-61. doi:10.3346/jkms.2016.31.9.1355
Shehab N, Lovegrove MC, Geller AI, Rose KO, Weidle NJ, Budnitz DS.US emergency department visits for outpatient adverse drug events, 2013-2014.JAMA.2016;316(20):2115–2125. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16201
Issa I, Moucari R.Probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Do we have a verdict?.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(47):17788-17795. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17788
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