Doctors to be banned from dishing out antibiotics for sore throats and colds

Interestingly,  the evidence shows that most people with sinus infections do not need antbiotics, even if symptoms  with 7 to 10 days of symptoms.  Studies show that  for every 15 people who are actually treated with antibiotics, only 1 actually benefits.  The other 14 would have gotten better without them.  Many of the 14 however will develop yeast infections and diarrhea.  However, in the UK, doctors will actually be banned from doing so.

———-

Doctors will be told not to hand out antibiotics for coughs, sore throats and colds under guidelines to be unveiled today.

GPs have been accused of wasting more than £100million on the drugs every year for patients with respiratory tract infections.

Rationing watchdog the National Institute for Clinical Excellence said today that the vast majority of cases would clear up on their own.

Adults should simply ‘take a rest’ while children should be offered ‘love and attention’.

And NICE warned that putting patients on antibiotics placed them at needless risk of side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Experts also believe that overuse of antibiotics could be a major factor behind the spread of superbugs such as MRSA because it prompts harmful bacteria to develop resistance, and could make it harder to treat serious conditions in the future. …..read more here.