Tips for Cold and Flu Season – Evidence Network

For many Canadians, the cold and flu season means preparing for painful and boring symptoms. This can mean days away from work or school to treat sore throat, nasal congestion and fever. Trying to comfort young children with fever, cough or ear pain can be difficult.

As doctors, we know that doctors and patients would like a quick fix – a quick fix for treating these symptoms. Patients want to return to normal life as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, antibiotics are not usually the solution.

Antibiotics are often misused because people mistakenly believe that they will treat the symptoms of colds and flu. In fact, fever, cough and ear pain are usually due to a virus – and viruses are not affected by antibiotics.

In Canada, it is estimated that more than half of all antibiotic prescriptions are useless and ineffective.

Common conditions, usually of a viral nature but often prescribed for antibiotics, include sinus infections, ear infections and chest colds (or bronchitis). Antibiotics generally do not help these conditions and the symptoms improve with a simple rest and time.

As doctors, it is difficult for us not to be able to offer a cure, and sometimes difficult for our patients, to accept that there is not much to do outside the management of their patients. symptoms and waiting.

A good first step is for doctors and patients to discuss the disadvantages of unnecessary antibiotics.

What harm can unnecessary antibiotics take? A lot.

When trying to treat symptoms caused by viral infections, antibiotics do not help and may even worsen patients' pain. Antibiotics work by preventing pathogenic bacteria from multiplying and multiplying. When diseases are of viral and non-bacterial origin, antibiotics have no impact.

The use of an antibiotic when it is not necessary also promotes the growth of commonly used antibiotic resistant bacteria. This makes patients, particularly the elderly, more vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant infections and compromises the good that antibiotics can do for us and others when they are really needed.

Taking antibiotics also has side effects. about one in four people taking antibiotics have stomach upset, dizziness or rash.

It is possible that you notice in your doctor's office a new tool that helps you to have a conversation about when antibiotics are no longer needed: it's a "notepad". Viral prescription ". it contains information on strategies to alleviate the symptoms of fever, body aches and pains. It also explains the risks of unnecessary antibiotics and provides examples of when you should return to the doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Do not receive antibiotics for colds or flu does not mean the lack of treatment. It just means a different approach.

One way to start the discussion about whether an antibiotic is really necessary or not is to use the three questions developed by Carefully Choosing in Canada when you are talking to your doctor: Do I really need to talk to your doctor? ; antibiotics? What are the risks? Are there more simple and secure options?

Dr. Guylène Thériault is a family physician practicing family medicine in Gatineau, Quebec. She is Associate Dean of Distributed Medical Education in the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University.

Dr. Wendy Levinson is Chair of the Board of Choosing Wisely Canada, a contributor to EvidenceNetwork.ca based at the University of Winnipeg and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.