how do doctors determine if antibiotics are nesseary when you have a cold?

Question

how do doctors determine taht you have a bacterial infection rather than a viral infection

Answer 1

They will not prescribe drugs for a virus. Since a cold is usually a virus....have you seen the commercial with the Rhino?... they will not prescribe drugs for that.

When it hangs on forever and your mucous changes colors from clear to dark yellow or green, this means that a bacteria has decided to join the mix. So then your doctor will prescribe the antibiotics. This doesn't mean that your virus will be gone. Sometimes you can get rid of the yellow mucous and still have the virus.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Once evaluated by your Doc ( exam), your symptoms and how long that you have had them, whether or not you have a fever. Viral infections tend to have a slight fever whereas, bacterial infections, usually have a high fever ( above 101.5). Viral infections need to run their course and will resolve on it's own. All that you can do, is treat the symptoms. Bacterial infections tend to last longer. Alot of things will let know Doc know, again, your symptoms and the Doc's exam, will determine if you need an antibiotic or not. Your Doc may or may not order some blood tests. I hope that this was useful.

Answer 3

doctors prescribe medications when there is an infection. Often, a culture is taken and a laboratory person finds what will work to get rid of the infection. That could be when the Dr. has you cough up in a sterile cup, or the dr. may take a swab of your mouth or nose to get a culture from you. If you have a cold, no infection, the dr. will tell you to drink plenty of fluids, stay in bed, keep warm, get lots of rest. If you have an infection, the dr will prescribe an antibiotic to get rid of the infection.

Answer 4

A cold is caused by the rhino virus not a bacteria.

Answer 5

they take a wipe of something from you, like in your throat or nose, put it in this stuff and see if it grows