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Antibiotics for colds — the evidence
The common cold is viral, and antibiotics do nothing to viruses. They add side effects and drive resistance. The only time antibiotics belong in the picture is a bacterial complication — an ear infection, sinusitis that has gone on for weeks, or pneumonia — and that is a clinician's call.
Was die Evidenz sagt
Verdict: Harmful. The common cold is viral, and antibiotics do nothing to viruses. They add side effects and drive resistance. The only time antibiotics belong in the picture is a bacterial complication — an ear infection, sinusitis that has gone on for weeks, or pneumonia — and that is a clinician's call.
Was man wirklich tun soll
Do not ask for them and do not use leftovers. The change that means "see a doctor" is not the runny nose but the second phase: getting better, then worse again with a fever, or symptoms dragging past 10-14 days.
Source: NICE CKS — common cold · checked 2026-09-07
Selbsthilfe-Nachschlagewerk, keine medizinische Beratung. Kinder, ältere Erwachsene, Schwangerschaft und jeder mit einer Langzeiterkrankung sollten eine niedrigere Schwelle haben, eine Ärztin oder einen Arzt anzurufen. Schwere oder sich verschlechternde Symptome, Atemnot oder Verwirrtheit: holen Sie medizinische Hilfe.