Harvard University researchers reviewed the prescribing habits of doctors and discovered that for 60% of visits for sore throats and 73% of visits for acute bronchitis, physicians prescribed antibiotics.  According to the researchers since viruses cause a majority of this illness the prescribing rate should be 10% for sore throats and nearly 0 for acute bronchitis. The inappropriate use of antibiotics adds to the creation of drug-resistant bacteria, or "superbugs," which are very difficult to treat and are a public health threat. Their results were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

According to the lead author of the study, Jeffrey Linder M.D. "People need to understand that by taking antibiotics for viral infections, they're putting something in their bodies that they don't need. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily exposes people to adverse drug reactions, allergies, yeast infections, and nausea, with no benefit"

According to Dr. Linder, sore throats caused by streptococcus bacteria (strep) should be treated with antibiotics but this would account for a few antibiotics.  Dr. Linder also believes that even when bacteria is involved (other than strep) there is no need for antibiotics unless the patient develops pneumonia.

Researchers state that most sore throats and cases of acute bronchitis should be treated with rest, fluids and using a humidifier, and don't require a visit to the doctor. A cough, runny nose and hoarseness usually are signs that a sore throat is viral, not caused by strep.  Essentially a chest cold, acute bronchitis involves swelling and inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs and typically follows a head cold or flu, which are viral infections. The illness lasts a week or two, but the cough, caused by lung irritation, may linger for weeks.

There are natural things you can do to help with colds and flu and there are natural products you can use such as Notatum, and Quentans.