# 7987
As mentioned yesterday (see The Lancet: Antibiotic Resistance - The Need For Global Solutions), today marks European Antibiotic Awareness day and kicks off the CDC’s Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. With each year that passes, more and more bacterial strains are finding ways to evade our dwindling arsenal of antibiotics – and so public health officials are working hard to improve the stewardship of the ones that still remain effective.
To that end, this week agencies like the World Health Organization, the CDC, and the ECDC are working to educate the public on when antibiotics are appropriate treatments, and when they are not. Since most winter respiratory illnesses are viral in nature, antibiotics simply don’t work – and using them inappropriately can lead to increased resistance.
So today, a quick tour of (and some excerpts from) the messaging coming from these organizations.
From the World Health Organization we get European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2013: everyone is responsible.
18-11-2013
Antibiotic resistance affects the entire WHO European Region, driven by the overuse, underuse and misuse of antibiotics. Although some efforts have been made to combat indiscriminate use, many countries have no national regulation or enforcement on antibiotic usage; healthy animals are given antibiotics to promote growth or prevent disease, and commercial companies promote antibiotics irresponsibly. In too many countries, members of the general public can buy antibiotics over the counter (without a prescription) and use them at will. Doctors often prescribe antibiotics easily or inappropriately, and people take them to treat viral infections such as influenza and the common cold, against which they do not work.
While today Public Health England is in myth busting mode, explaining that:
Green phlegm and snot ‘not always a sign of an infection needing antibiotics
Advice on European Antibiotics Awareness Day (18 November) to raise awareness of the risks of inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Having green phlegm or snot is not always a sign of a bacterial infection that will require antibiotics to get better, says Public Health England (PHE) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
This advice is issued on European Antibiotics Awareness Day (18 November) which aims to raise awareness of the risks associated with the inappropriate use of antibiotics and how to use them responsibly.
Research by PHE’s Primary Care Unit has found that 40% of the general public believed that antibiotics would help a cough with green phlegm get better more quickly rather than clear phlegm (6%).
White blood cells are produced by the body to attack any foreign materials the body does not recognise such as pollutants, dirt, pollen or microbes, and are carried in your phlegm and snot. Some white blood cells contain a green substance (a protein) so if more of these cells are present the greener your phlegm or snot will be.
Phlegm therefore comes in a range of colours from white to mustard-yellow to varying shades of green. Coloured phlegm or snot does not mean you need antibiotics.
In most healthy people, phlegm or snot production with or without a cough will stop as your cold or flu-like illness clears up, although it may take up to 3 to 4 weeks.
And from the CDC, some advice on how to deal with the miseries of a winter illness without resorting to antibiotics.
What can I do to feel better if antibiotics won’t treat my illness because it’s caused by a virus?
For upper respiratory infections, such as sore throats, ear infections, sinus infections, colds, and bronchitis, try the following:
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Use a clean humidifier
or cool mist vaporizer
- Avoid smoking, second-hand smoke, and other pollutants (airborne chemicals or irritants)
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve pain or fever (read about what is safe to give your child)
For children and adults, over-the-counter pain relievers, decongestants and saline nasal sprays may help relieve some symptoms. Remember, always use over-the-counter products as directed. Many over-the-counter products are not recommended for children younger than certain ages.
Over-the-counter medicines may help relieve symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, fever and aches, but they do not shorten the length of time you or your child is sick.
Learn more by reading below about over-the-counter medicines. Here are some helpful tips for how to feel better depending on how you or your child feels.
Sore Throat
- Soothe a sore throat with ice chips, sore throat spray, or lozenges (do not give lozenges to young children)
- Use a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve pain or fever (read about what is safe to give your child)
Ear Pain
- Put a warm moist cloth over the ear that hurts
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve pain or fever (read about what is safe to give your child)
Runny Nose
- Use a decongestant or saline nasal spray to help relieve nasal symptoms (read about what is safe to give your child)
Sinus Pain/Pressure
- Put a warm compress over the nose and forehead to help relieve sinus pressure
- Use a decongestant or saline nasal spray
- Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or shower
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve pain or fever (read about what is safe to give your child)
Cough
- Use a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer or breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or shower (read about what is safe to give your child)
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines
Questions and Answers for Parents about Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines
