section_path: Management/Antibiotics and antivirals
section_name: Antibiotics and antivirals
paragraph_text: Antibiotics and antivirals
  
  Antibiotics have no effect against viral infections, including the common cold. Due to their side effects, antibiotics cause overall harm but nevertheless are still frequently prescribed. Some of the reasons that antibiotics are so commonly prescribed include people's expectations for them, physicians' desire to help, and the difficulty in excluding complications that may be amenable to antibiotics. There are no effective antiviral drugs for the common cold even though some preliminary research has shown benefits. Antibiotics may be beneficial in the case of secondary bacterial infection as acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS).The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) consensus, recommends a combination of five signs and symptoms to assist in identifying acute bacterial rhinosinusitis - being likely when ≥3 of five criteria are present: Discolored discharge with a unilateral predominance; Severe local pain; Fever ≥38°C; Double sickening; Elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).