14 DAY TRIAL // A study developed at the University of Auckland in New Zealand showed that antibiotics are not the most recommended treatment solution in order to get rid of common colds' main symptom - runny nose, medically termed as "acute purulent rhinitis". This symptom consists in persistent colored discharge.
It is better to stay off antibiotics and leave the rhinorrhea cure for itself. Instead, keep blowing your nose any time you feel like it, as this can be the most simply of eliminating the virus from your body. Bruce Arroll, co-author of the study published in The British Medical Journal stated that most patients "will get better without antibiotics."
Dr. Bruce Arroll and his research colleague Dr. Tim Kenealy investigated seven studies on the effect of antibiotics in treating acute purulent rhinitis. Antibiotics were not proved to be inefficient, but only one in six persons with a runny nose got rid of the troubling colored discharge by antibiotics intake.
"Antibiotics are probably effective for acute, purulent rhinitis. But most patients will get better without antibiotics, supporting the current 'no antibiotic as first-line treatment' advice," the two doctors advised.
Besides the fact that they are not sure to treat rhinorrhea that comes with a cold, antibiotics can develop side effects when taken by an individual, such as: vomiting, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea etc.
However, if the symptoms worsen, a specialist should be seen by the patients: "GPs often prescribe antibiotics for respiratory tract infections when nasal discharge is purulent. They are probably effective, but they can cause harm and most patients will get better without them. Antibiotics should only be used when symptoms have persisted for long enough to concern parents of patients," lead researchers said.