Are antibiotics ever needed for a runny nose?

Are antibiotics ever needed for a runny nose?

Antibiotics are needed only if your healthcare provider tells you that your child has sinusitis. Your child’s healthcare provider may prescribe other medicine or give you tips to help with a cold’s other symptoms like fever and cough, but antibiotics are not needed to treat the runny nose.

Why not try antibiotics now?. What do the colors mean?

Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful. Each time people take antibiotics, they are more likely to carry resistant germs in their noses and throats. These resistant germs cannot be killed by common antibiotics. Your child may need more costly antibiotics, antibiotics given by a needle, or may even need to be in the hospital to get antibiotics.

Since a runny nose almost always gets better on its own, it is better to wait and take antibiotics only when they are needed.

1-800-CDC-INFO www.cdc.gov/getsmart