As kids and
parents settle into their back-to-school routines, fall weather brings allergy,
cold and flu season. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the
three which often result in people seeking antibiotics, fueling the threat of
antibiotic resistance.
Louis Guida,
MD, pediatric and pulmonology expert at CHS’s Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center and St. Charles Hospital, explains the difference between
allergies, a cold and the flu and why it’s important understand antibiotic
resistance.
“Allergies, the cold and flu will share the
following symptoms: sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, cough and fatigue. For
allergies, that’s usually where symptoms end,” said Dr. Guida. “It’s important
to note, a typically unique symptom to allergies is itchy or watery eyes. Anyone
with a cold may also experience minor headaches, mild body aches, and possibly
a low fever. In addition to these symptoms, most people with the flu will exhibit
a high fever (100-102, sometimes higher especially in young children) for a few
days, have a headache, general body aches and sometimes the chills.”
According to
the CDC, antibiotics are a type of drug that can kill or stop the
growth of bacteria. However, cold and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and
allergies are your body’s immune system reacting to an outside trigger such as pollen.
Dr. Guida
confirms antibiotics are not meant to treat allergies, the cold or flu. “Antibiotic
use contributes to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are designed to kill
bacteria but sometimes a few bacteria survive, building an immunity to the
antibiotic. In this case, the bacteria keeps growing, multiplying and spreading
to other people or animals. When it spreads to others, the original antibiotic
won’t be able to kill the bacteria.”
Unfortunately,
some patients are still being prescribed antibiotics to treat allergy, cold and
flu symptoms. According to Dr. Guida, “There’s no one answer as to why this is
happening. In some cases, a clinical provider may feel pressure from patients
to walk out with a treatment plan that includes a prescription. Or perhaps at
the time of the visit the doctor suspects the illness is of bacterial etiology,
like bacterial sore throats.”
The next
time you or someone in your family is faced with allergy, cold or flu symptoms,
Dr. Guida offers the following, “For allergies, avoiding allergens like pollen,
house dust, mold and pet dander will help. For colds, make sure to wash your
hands often and avoid close contact with people who have a cold. For the flu,
be sure to get the flu vaccine each year, wash your hands and avoid close
contact with anyone who has the flu.
As for
treatment, over-the-counter medications are available to help combat allergy,
cold and flu symptoms. If you have allergies look for antihistamines, nasal
steroids or decongestants. If you have a cold or the flu it’s important to
drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and look for aspirin, decongestants,
acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.”
If prolonged
symptoms occur, consider making an appointment with your primary care doctor to
discuss your options.
For more information and/or to
connect with a CHS doctor call 1-855-CHS-4500 or visit www.chsli.org.
