That's why antibiotics don't help. They attack bacteria, not viruses.
What you see: A virus and an antibiotic capsule in the dark. The capsule drifts past without affecting the virus.
02 · The myth
Antibiotics don't work against colds
Many believe
Antibiotics will make me better faster.
Why many believe it
A cold can bring fever, a blocked nose and yellow or green mucus. Then it can feel like something that needs medicine.
What is right
Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only work against bacteria. Antibiotics won't make you better faster, but they can cause side effects. Unnecessary use also makes bacteria more likely to become resistant (antibiotic resistance). Yellow or green mucus does not in itself mean there are bacteria.
03 · What you can do
What you can do yourself
Rest and drink plenty.
For a blocked nose, salt water in the nose or steam can help. Decongestant nasal sprays should only be used for a few days.
Over-the-counter pain and fever relief can ease the symptoms. It won’t make you better faster. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
Wash your hands often, and cough and sneeze into your elbow, so you infect fewer people.
A cold usually clears up on its own in 7–10 days. The cough can last three weeks or more.
04 · See a doctor
Contact a doctor if …
You have severe trouble breathing, chest pain lasting more than five minutes, or become confused or hard to wake – call 113 in Norway or your local emergency number.
You get much worse quickly, develop laboured or fast breathing, or feel very unwell – call the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt, 116 117 in Norway) or your local urgent care service.
You have had a fever for more than three days, or get ill again after you were getting better – contact your GP (regular doctor).
You get severe pain in the ear, in the face or around the eyes – contact your GP (regular doctor).
You are still ill after two weeks – contact your GP (regular doctor).
In children
Your baby is younger than six months and has a fever – call the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt, 116 117 in Norway) or your local urgent care service.
Your child is struggling to breathe, cannot drink, or is peeing much less often than usual – call the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt, 116 117 in Norway) or your local urgent care service.
Your child is limp and very unwell, or responds to you less than usual – call the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt, 116 117 in Norway) or your local urgent care service.
Your child has earache, or a fever for more than three days – contact your GP (regular doctor).
Headache and migraine
