If you’re sneezing, coughing, and feeling poor, it might be a good idea to see your doctor. But trust your doctor if they don’t prescribe an antibiotic.

“It’s important to only use antibiotics for the right reasons,” says Dr. Julie Joseph, chief medical officer for BlueCare Tennessee. “Not all infections require an antibiotic.”

Here’s what you need to know about taking antibiotics as cold-and-flu season approaches.

Why antibiotics aren’t always the right choice

Dr. Joseph: Antibiotics are a tool for getting rid of bacterial infections such as strep throat and whooping cough. They can kill the bacteria or stop them from growing, which helps clear up the infection and its symptoms.

But antibiotics don’t work against infections caused by viruses. This includes many common upper respiratory infections, like colds and the flu. The same goes for COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Here’s another factor to consider with antibiotic use.  When antibiotics are used incorrectly, drug-resistant bacteria can result. When bacteria become drug-resistant, finding antibiotics that work to fight those infections becomes harder.

Tennessee has one of the highest antibiotic resistance rates in the nation. That’s because people often make mistakes when it comes to using antibiotics. A few examples:

• Taking an antibiotic for a viral infection
• Not finishing an entire course of antibiotics
• Taking someone else’s antibiotics that weren’t prescribed for you

What to do when you’re sick

Dr. Joseph: There are times when antibiotics are appropriate. However, you can’t always tell on your own if you have a bacterial infection or a viral infection. Often, they can seem similar. They can have overlapping symptoms. You might be congested or have a runny nose or even run a fever with both kinds of infections.

You need to see your doctor first to get checked. Your doctor can make sure that you’re fighting a bacterial infection, not a virus, before writing a prescription for an antibiotic.

If you have a virus but you’re worried that you’re getting worse, not better, let your doctor know. People can develop secondary bacterial infections like sinusitis or pneumonia after having a virus. That might be a reason to take antibiotics, too.

Also, make sure you take antibiotics exactly as your doctor prescribes. That includes any instructions about taking it with food and finishing the entire course of treatment. Don’t “save it for later,” either. You should only take an antibiotic for the specific case for which it was prescribed.

Another tip: don’t share antibiotics with anyone else. Your doctor wrote that prescription based upon your specific needs. Someone else’s prescription might not be right for you.

“Don’t insist on an antibiotic just because you’re not feeling well,” Dr. Joseph says. “Let your doctor decide after evaluating you.”

More from Dr. Joseph on WellTuned

Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.