Always consult your physician for a diagnosis. When around people with colds, do not touch your nose or eyes, because your hands may be contaminated with the virus. People with colds should cough and sneeze in facial tissue and dispose of the tissue promptly, and then wash their hands immediately. In addition, cleaning surfaces with disinfectants that kill viruses can halt the spread of the common cold. Research has shown that rhinoviruses may survive up to three hours outside of the nasal mucosa.
Antibiotics are only effective when given to treat bacterial infections.
Consult your physician for more information. In fact, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , we suffer from an estimated 1 billion colds during the course of one year. With this high number, it is no wonder why many of us want immediate relief from the runny nose, congestion, cough, and other symptoms associated with a cold. But, according to a recent study, among many of us, there is a misperception when it comes to treating colds with a certain type of medication. The study, published in the Archives of Family Medicine , found that a large number of its participants requested antibiotics to treat cold symptoms that either they were experiencing or their children were experiencing.