Do antibiotics work for flu and colds?

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A Dayton doctor joins federal officials who want you to know antibiotics may not help you get over the flu or a cold.

It is painfully familiar.  "Patients come to a doctor with a sore throat and expect antibiotics, but it has no value in those situations," said Dr. Glen Solomon, Wright State Physicians.

That's because antibiotics treat bacteria, not viruses.  "You often can't tell if it's bacterial or viral.  There isn't  testing to distinguish between the two."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary for most of the illnesses we complain about.

Some doctors will send  patients to a pharmacy for viral infections anyway, leading to antibiotic overuse.

That makes drug resistant germs stronger and can lead to even more illnesses.

"People will die from infections needlessly because bacteria are being resistant to common antibiotics," said Dr. Solomon.

So, the light hearted philosophy is with a healthy person, a cold can get better in seven days with antibiotics or in a week without them.

According to a new study, antibiotics are used most in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.

They're used least in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington.