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This question is directed towards residents/attendings:
When should one prescribe antibiotics for a prolonged hacking cough that results secondary to the "common cold". Many people I know (including myself) inevitably get a severe hacking cough that lasts for weeks following the sore throat/runny nose portion of the cold.
It is common sense that antibiotics don't treat a virus, but many of these patients say that antibiotics immediately improve their symptoms and shorten the duration of the severe cough. Is this because they get bacterial superinfections that are treated by the antiobiotics?
In short, how long does somebody need to have a cough (following an URI) before you prescribe antiobiotics?
When should one prescribe antibiotics for a prolonged hacking cough that results secondary to the "common cold". Many people I know (including myself) inevitably get a severe hacking cough that lasts for weeks following the sore throat/runny nose portion of the cold.
It is common sense that antibiotics don't treat a virus, but many of these patients say that antibiotics immediately improve their symptoms and shorten the duration of the severe cough. Is this because they get bacterial superinfections that are treated by the antiobiotics?
In short, how long does somebody need to have a cough (following an URI) before you prescribe antiobiotics?
