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Chest colds: Do antibiotics help?
Sep 28, 2021 - McMaster University - 15 minutes
The Bottom Line
Are antibiotics really necessary to treat a chest cold? In this video, Dr. Anthony Levinson and infectious disease expert Dr. Zain Chagla discuss acute bronchitis, what it is, common symptoms, how it is best treated, and the role that antibiotics might play. Meet Helen, who woke up with a sudden onset of a new, dry cough; and coughed consistently throughout the day for 48 hours.
Learn the answers to the following questions:
What is acute bronchitis?
What are the main signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis?
How is acute bronchitis typically diagnosed?
Do antibiotics work to treat acute bronchitis?
Why might antibiotics be prescribed to treat acute bronchitis?
What can you do to help manage the symptoms of acute bronchitis?
Is there a role for cough suppressants?
What are the preventative measures to avoid getting acute bronchitis?
Does prolonged acute bronchitis indicate the need for antibiotics?
Want to test your knowledge? After watching the video take this quick 5-question quiz.
Dr. Anthony J. Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and holds the John R. Evans Chair in Health Sciences Educational Research and Instructional Development. One of the co-leaders of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, Dr. Levinson is also a psychiatrist with a special interest in medical psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and preventive psychiatry. His area of research interest includes online learning to improve healthcare provider and patient education.
Author Details
Zain Chagla
Dr. Zain Chagla is an Associate Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and adjunct faculty at the University of Namibia in the Department of Medicine. He specializes in internal medicine, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases. He is a Consultant Physician at St. Joseph's Hospital and Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His research and clinical interests include global health and tropical medicine, education and microbial stewardship, infections in renal transplantation, and ultrasound in infectious diseases.
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Acknowledgements
This work is supported through the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and funds provided by the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.
DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).
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