If it starts getting better by then that's probably a virus. Viruses get better quicker than bacterial infections. If it is not better by seven to ten days, go see your doctor, because it probably is a bacterial infection. The group recommends medications like cough suppressants and decongestants that will treat the symptoms. They won't make you better by making the disease go away, but they will make it easier to wait it out.
Most viral infections get better on their own.
Doctors are going to have to help educate their patients that antibiotics don't work on viruses, and that antibiotic resistance is a big problem and everybody needs to work together. Some doctors we talked to said stopping to educate patients takes time, and managed care has reduced the amount of time that they have with each patient, so that is hard to do. They also know that if a patient isn't satisfied with the treatment they are giving, meaning if they don't get an antibiotic and want one, a lot of times they will go to another doctor. So it is going to take a little bit of education to help change this with patients. The best thing is for as many doctors to work together on this as possible.