Sudden onset respiratory tract infections are common, contagious viral illnesses that begin as a sore throat or a sniffle and spread over a few days to cause generalized head congestion, cough, and chest congestion.  Clear-to-yellow nasal discharge and sputum are common consequences.  These infections last up to three weeks and slowly recover without treatment.  They are clinically recognizable and should not be confused with bacterial illnesses—bacteria are not capable of causing such wide-spread respiratory tract infections.
      Antibiotics are contraindicated in acute respiratory tract infections because they are harmful and because they have no influence on these viral illnesses.  Numerous scientific studies backup this statement and there are no studies that have ever shown that antibiotics provide relief from any of these respiratory viruses.  In spite of such overwhelming evidence to the contrary, antibiotics are still prescribed indiscriminately by Oklahoma practitioners.  Consequently, we are now one of the top states in antibiotic abuse and in bacterial resistance, which is on of the many serious consequences of antibiotic abuse.
      There are three situations where bacteria may play a secondary role during these viral respiratory tract infections and where treating such bacteria would be justifiable.
a) Secondary bacterial sinusitis with yellow nasal discharge that increases after the first week of illness and occurs in those with history of chronic or recurrent sinus problems.
b) Secondary bacterial bronchitis with yellow sputum that increases after the first week of illness and occurs in those with chronic lung conditions such as smokers, x-smokers, asthmatics, etc.
c) Secondary bacterial pneumonia which causes rapid clinical decline with increasing shortness of breath and high fever >100.3 °F
      In Oklahoma, when such common respiratory viral infections are treated with one antibiotic and do not respond, they are usually treated with a second and even a third round.  By the end of the third round, the illness is beyond its third week and spontaneously resolves, giving the impression that the last antibiotic round did the job.  Such commonly prescribed treatments run contrary to all scientific evidence, encourage antibiotic resistance, cause secondary fungal infections, and invite antibiotic colitis, which is dangerous and may not be curable.
      Although little known, acute respiratory infections do have a scientifically-proven, non-antibiotic treatment that is available and inexpensive.  In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Zink Acetate Lozenges (13.3 mg each) taken every 2-3 hours while awake shortened the seven-day viral illnesses by three days.  The study was published in the Journal of Infectious Disease, March 15, 2008:197.  The lozenges are now available on the web (geroge.eby@gerorge-eby-research.com) under the brand name of Eby’s Cold Cure 14 mg Peppermint Flavored Zinc Acetate Lozenges.  They are much better than antibiotics and have none of the antibiotic side effects.  All other treatments available are for symptoms such as cough, congestion, and aches.  One common mistake is to treat congestion with drying decongestants.  Doing that predisposes users to sinusitis because decongestants prevent drainage.  Hydration, blowing the nose, and using saline inhalers are far better and carry no risk.
      The Flu (short for Influenza) is not part of the common cold spectrum because it is a most severe, seasonal infection with chills, body aches, high fever, +/- nausea and vomiting, all of which prevent function and put the patient in bed for a few days.
      Influenza vaccines are encouraged because they help prevent or minimize the disease.  The vaccines are dead and cannot give anyone the Flu.  However, because they take about three weeks to work, one may develop the Flu during that interim.  When this happens, the vaccine should not be blamed for the mishap.
      In this Fall of 2009, the circulating Influenza virus is the H1N1 or Swine Flu.  The CDC does not recommend using the antivirals, Tamiflu and Relenza, routinely because the illness is not severe enough in most people and using these antivirals indiscriminately would encourage resistance.
      Treatments should be reserved for those with severe illness or for children under 2, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with asthma or other chronic lung diseases.  The treatment decision to use Tamiflu or Relenza should be based on clinical data because the available Rapid-Flu tests are not dependable and miss about 50% of those who really have the H1N1 virus.  If treatment is deemed necessary, it needs to be initiated within the first 48 hours of the illness to provide the most benefit.
      For similar reasons, prophylaxis with antivirals should also be limited to the high-risk groups mentioned above so as not to encourage viral resistance and squander our limited supplies of medicine.  A wait-and-see approach is wiser for most other people because the illness tends to be milder in the non high-risk groups and treatment may not make an important difference.
      The H1N1 vaccine is manufactured in the same way as the seasonal vaccine and should not be confused with the old Swine Flu vaccine, which caused paralysis in 1976.  Reactions to the H1N1 vaccine are expected to be similar to those of the seasonal Flu vaccine and not any worse.
      The H1N1 vaccine should be given to the highest risk groups in the following order: a) pregnant women, b) those in close contact with infants under 6 months, c) health workers, d) those 6 months to 24 years old, e) those 25-64 with chronic illnesses, f) those 25-64 years who are healthy, and g) those 65years and up.  The over 65 group have an advantage because they have antibodies, which they made a long time ago when a similar virus circulated.  Consequently, they are not as vulnerable to the H1N1 as are the younger groups.  Moreover, about 50% of those who had received the 1976 Swine Flu vaccine still have protective antibodies today.
      To find out which pharmacies in your area offer the Influenza vaccines call toll free the FEP Retail Pharmacy Program 1 800 624-5060, provide your zip code, and you will be guided to the pharmacy nearest you.