Cold or sore throat: should you take antibiotics? Answers from Dr Jean-Claude Bakpatina, General Practitioner (Lomé)

---

Extract from the article: Colds, flu and most throat infections are viral in origin. When we talk about antibiotics, we're talking about drugs that act on bacteria and not, a priori, on viruses or fungi. Even if the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are not imperat

---

Colds, flu and most throat infections are viral in origin. When we talk about antibiotics, we're talking about drugs that act on bacteria and not, a priori, on viruses or fungi. Even if the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are not imperative: if the patient is otherwise healthy, a few days are generally enough for the body to overcome the illness. Antibiotic therapy should only be considered in very specific cases.

What's the problem?

It is extremely difficult to quickly determine whether the infection is viral or bacterial, and therefore whether or not the antibiotic will be effective. And the administration of these drugs is never trivial: the risk of side-effects cannot be overlooked, including allergic reactions and gastrointestinal problems.Another worrying issue is the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.  Antibiotics should only be recommended by healthcare professionals in the event of a cold or sore throat, or for patients at risk, particularly those suffering from rheumatic fever, a heart condition, cancer or a deficient immune system, or in the event of an epidemic of bacterial infection in communal facilities such as nursing homes or schools. They will be prescribed if there is a high fever, or signs of complications such as difficulty swallowing, redness or swelling of the face, or any other sign that might lead the doctor to suspect a worsening of the illness u or if symptoms persist for more than a week.

Interview by William O.