Neil's Cold or 'Why not to use Antibiotics!'

A few weeks back I Twittered on the cold that had taken over my body, partially at the request of some followers but also from some sense of 'Science Crusade'. Doctor's surgeries get blocked up over winter with people suffering from the common cold. many people expect to be given some sort of miracle medication to cure them; may go away with antibiotics, which are often not needed and worse still can increase the occurance of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

This later point is worrying as there is growing evidence to suggest that 'over-prescription' of antibiotics was a strong contributor to the rapid increase in the generation of bacterial strains resistant to multiple antibiotics E.G. MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureaus) and VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci). These 'superbugs' have become a global healthcare nightmare and we must all, Practitioners and Public alike, adjust our use of what are essentially life saving medications.

My Tweets:

1. common colds are caused By 'viruses'. viruses have no means of replicating themselves and must therefore invade a host = you
   
2. once in a host a virus will hijack the host's molecular machinery to replicate itself thousands of times in each cell
   
3. viruses are essentially a length of DNA or RNA encapsulated in a fancy protein coat. they come in many shapes and styles
   
4. viruses take away all your energy, making rugby very difficult. I know i'm not very fit, but today was difficult!
   
5. next morning and things are worse - very little sleep due to a completely blocked nose damn virus!
   
6. KEY POINT - ANTIBIOTICS, SUCH AS PENICILLIN, WILL NOT TOUCH THE COMMON COLD SO PLEASE DON'T ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY!
   
7. just to clarify - antibiotics treat bacterial infections not viral ones. Viruses are almost impossible to kill with medicine
   
8. the body's reaction to a virus is usually advantageous to that virus - e.g raised temp gives quicker production turnover
   
9. Viruses are pretty amazing, as they hijack a host's normal processes for their own benefits. Some are 'kinder' than others!
   
10. scientists use adapted viruses to deliver test molecules during research or even 'genes' as treatments. e.g for #CF
    
11. Virus still there, but definitely fewer effects now. Still wish that something could've taken to get rid of the virus!
    
12. But there are no medications that can effectively defeat a virus - the only thing you can do is ease the symptoms
13. So use: painkillers (Ibuprofen, paracetamol etc) for the aches; cough mixtures for any cough (i find Glycerol ones best)...
    
14. coughing is an essential part of clearing mucus/phlegm from the airways, so use Guaifenesin to make it more effective
    
15. use vapours (Menthol ones best) to decongest nasal passages - I find that Phenylephrine meds don't really work for this!
    
16. Please Note - These are just things I do to help my colds - please always read labels and heed proper medical advice
    
17. I also like to max on sugary foods to give me the energy boost to keep functioning. But rest is best for faster recovery!
    
18. Finally though, remember that Antibiotics don't help cure colds! (had to say that again - it is very important)
    

I will continue to Tweet and Blog about the issues following this 'Cold' in the hopes that there is eventually better understanding by the populus about antibiotics and why your doctor may not be so quick to prescribe them nowadays!