Colds and Flu

Most doctor believe that colds and the flu account for more unnecessary visits than any other group of problems. Because these are viral illnesses, they cannot be cured by antibiotics or any other drugs. However, there are non-prescription drugs - aspirin, decongestants, antihistamines - that may help to relieve symptoms while these problems cure themselves.

There seem to be three main reasons why these unnecessary visits are made. First, some patients are not sure that their illness is a cold or flu, although this seems to be a relatively small part of the problem. Most patients state clearly that have a cold or the flu. Second, many come seeking a cure. There are still large numbers of people who believe that pencillin or other antibiotics are necessary to recover from these problems.

Finally, there are many patients who feel so sick that they feel that the doctor must be able to do something. Faced with this expectation, doctors sometimes try too hard to satisfy the patient. A doctor may give an antibiotic if it is requested, or fail to fully inform the patient as to the limitations of the drugs prescribed. This is undesireable; who wants to tell sick patients that they have wasted their time and money by coming to the doctor?

Of course, colds and flu do lead to necessary visits as well. These result from thr complications of colds and the flu, primarily bacterial ear infections and bacterial pneumonia. Invery young children, viral infections of the lung may lead to complications.