News
Winter Illnesses and Antibiotics
At Mt Eden Village Doctors, we are committed to using antibiotics carefully and appropriately. This is known as antimicrobial stewardship: using antibiotics when they are genuinely needed, while avoiding them when they are unlikely to help. We utilise evidence based pathways and the recently updated Aotearoa Antibiotic Prescribing Guideline to ensure our prescribing is inline with NZ standards and in the best interests of our patients and the wider community.
Why don't I need antibiotics?
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viruses. Taking an antibiotic for a viral infection such as a common cold will not make you recover faster. Many bacterial infections are also are self-limiting, meaning they will resolve without the requirement for antibiotics.
Antibiotics can also cause side effects, including diarrhoea, nausea, rashes and disruption of healthy bacteria in your body. Importantly, unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to antibiotic resistance, making some infections increasingly difficult to treat.
How long should a winter illness last?
Knowing what is normal can be reassuring. Common symptoms can last longer than many people expect:
- Fever: usually 3-5 days
- Headache or sore throat: around 1 week
- Blocked nose: 7-10 days
- Runny nose: up to 2 weeks
- Cough: often 2-4 weeks
When might antibiotics be needed?
There are some infections where antibiotics are important, including pneumonia and whooping cough (pertussis). For other conditions such as ear infections, sinusitis and sore throats, antibiotics may be appropriate in certain circumstances, depending on the severity of symptoms, how long they have lasted and individual risk factors.
An assessment by your doctor is especially important if you are very unwell, your symptoms are worsening, you are not improving as expected, or you have frail health or risk factors for specific complications.
What can I do to feel better?
Most winter illnesses can be managed with simple supportive care:
- Rest and keep well hydrated.
- Paracetamol can help with pain, headaches and discomfort.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as brufen) may be suitable for some patients to treat pain and fever
- Warm drinks, throat lozenges or sprays may provide some relief for a sore throat
- Oral decongestants (pseudoephedrine / phenylephrine) may help nasal congestion
- Nasal decongestants (e.g. otrivin), used for a maximum of 5 days, may reduce nasal congestion
- Saline nasal sprays or rinses can help with nasal symptoms.
- Remember that a mild fever is part of the body's natural immune response and does not always need to be treated unless it is making you uncomfortable.
For children, treatment options are more limited, and some cough and cold medicines are not suitable for young children. If you are unsure what is appropriate, please reach out.
Keep antibiotics working for everyone
Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem in Aotearoa New Zealand. When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, infections can become harder to treat and can spread more easily. It can also make procedures such as surgery and cancer treatment riskier.
The best way to protect antibiotics for the future is to use them wisely today.
The following resources may be of assistance with regards to understanding and managing winter illnesses. These are not intended to replace advice given by a doctor or nurse. If you are unwell this winter and unsure whether you need antibiotics, please contact us to make an appointment or speak with the nurse.
Antibiotics - when are they needed? Health New Zealand
Antimicrobial resistance - what is it?
Antibiotics
Managing winter infections
Cough, runny nose, sore throat
Cough - Health New Zealand
Pneumonia - Health New Zealand
Colds - Health New Zealand
