Can Antibiotics Do More Harm Than Good Treating Colds?

BOSTON (CBS) -- 'Tis the season for colds, coughs and sore throats and this is a good time to remind ourselves that antibiotics are not only useless for most of these symptoms, but could do more harm than good.

Antibiotics can cause a rash, stomach upset, or a yeast infection and in the long-term could lead to more bacterial resistance, not only in the community but also in your own body so that when you really need them, they will be less likely to work.

So the only time you should ask for or expect a prescription for an antibiotic from your physician is if you have a bacterial infection like a bacterial pneumonia, a sinus infection that is getting worse after 10 days or strep throat, which can be confirmed with a throat swab.