Study: Antibiotics ineffective for colds

December 19, 2012 (WLS) -- The winter months are prime time for colds and coughs, but a new report says it's pointless to take antibiotics to treat these symptoms.

The study in the Lancet Medical Journal says people get better on their own.

Two thousand patients across 12 European counties kept an illness diary and results show antibiotics were ineffective in treating those with cough caused by mild chest infections.

The study also found that those taking antibiotics had more side effects including nausea and diarrhea compared to those given a placebo.

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