When Is the Right Time to Use Antibiotics?

When we feel bad, we want to get better quickly. And antibiotics may seem like the answer when you have symptoms like a cough, sore throat or sinus pain.

Antibiotics can save lives, but they aren’t always the answer. They are important tools for preventing and treating bacterial infections. But studies show that most upper respiratory infections are viral — not bacterial. That’s why antibiotics may not be the best way to treat your flu-like symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that taking antibiotics when they aren’t needed can do more harm than good. You may still feel sick. And the antibiotic could give you a skin rash, diarrhea, a yeast infection or more serious side effects.

Using antibiotics too often also gives bacteria a chance to become more resistant to them. This can make future infections harder to treat. That means that antibiotics might not work when you really need them.

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious problem. Antibiotics are among the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. The CDC estimates that at least 28 percent of prescriptions for antibiotics are not needed or were the wrong treatment.

If your doctor suggests an antibiotic, it’s a good idea to ask some questions to help make sure you really need it.

When It’s Bacterial

You may need an antibiotic for:

• A sinus infection that doesn’t improve in 10 days, or one that improves initially and then gets worse.
• A urinary tract infection (UTI). Symptoms include pain and burning when you urinate.
• Whooping cough. Symptoms include coughing with a severe “whooping” sound that comes in episodes or spasms. It may take your breath away or cause vomiting.
• Strep throat, a bacterial infection in the throat and tonsils. Your doctor can do a quick test to see if your sore throat is strep.

The CDC offers more information  about when you may need antibiotics.

When It’s Viral

For adults, some ways to treat illnesses that are not bacterial include:

• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for aches and pains.
• Cough suppressants, decongestants or antihistamines as needed for symptoms.
• Plenty of fluids.
• Rest.
• A cool-mist humidifier. Cool, humidified air may improve symptoms of nasal congestion and runny nose.

For children, treating symptoms with over-the-counter medicine isn’t always the right choice.  Parents should talk to their children’s health care provider about when and how to treat fever, cough and other viral symptoms.

Sources: Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Adults Comes With Increased Risks,  PEW Charitable Trust, 2023; Antibiotic Resistance Project,  PEW Charitable Trust; Antibiotic Prescribing and Use,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Antibiotic Prescribing and Use - Patient Education Resources,  CDC, 2024; Antibiotic resistant bacteria: current situation and treatment options to accelerate the development of a new antimicrobial arsenal,  National Library of Medicine, 2022; Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance Facts,  CDC, 2024; Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds?,  U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024

Originally published 12/16/2019; Revised 2023, 2024