The waiting room at Woori Children’s Hospital in Seongbuk District, Seoul, is crowded with patients and caregivers on November 23. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — A majority of South Koreans continue to believe that antibiotics help cure the common cold, even though decades of scientific research show they offer virtually no benefit and can increase harmful side effects, according to a new government survey released this month.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism surveyed 1,000 people nationwide aged 14 and older between March and May. Seventy-two percent said they believe antibiotics are effective for treating colds — an illness caused by viruses, not bacteria.
Medical experts say the misconception persists despite overwhelming scientific consensus. A large body of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, including Cochrane analyses, shows that antibiotics do not shorten or relieve symptoms of the common cold or acute upper respiratory infections.
In fact, they significantly increase the risk of side effects, particularly digestive issues such as diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.
A Cochrane review of six clinical trials found no meaningful difference between antibiotics and placebos in the persistence of cold symptoms after one to seven days. The relative risk was 0.95 — statistically indistinguishable between the two groups — while side effects were nearly twice as common among those who took antibiotics.
Even in cases of acute purulent rhinitis, commonly marked by thick yellow or green nasal discharge, antibiotics offered no statistically significant benefit, though side effects again increased sharply.
Antibiotics Offer No Benefit for Colds but Increase Side Effects, Studies Confirm (Yonhap)
Antibiotics showed a modest statistical effect in acute bronchitis, reducing the risk of lingering cough by about one-third. But the real-world benefit amounted to shortening symptoms by less than half a day, while still increasing adverse reactions by 20 percent.
Most cases of acute bronchitis are viral and resolve naturally within two weeks, though coughs may last up to two months.
Despite the evidence, misconceptions have been slow to fade. Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics to preempt possible secondary bacterial infections like sinusitis or otitis media, and symptoms alone often make it difficult to distinguish viral from bacterial illness.
Persistent myths — such as the belief that yellow mucus signals a bacterial infection — have further entrenched the routine prescribing of antibiotics for colds.
Historical perception also plays a role. Since penicillin was hailed as a “miracle drug,” the public has often viewed antibiotics as a cure-all, a belief reinforced across generations.
Experts Say Antibiotics Cut Cough by Only Half a Day — While Boosting Risks Significantly (Yonhap)
Yet inappropriate antibiotic use carries real risks. Patients frequently stop taking antibiotics once they feel better — 63 percent of survey respondents admitted doing so — which can leave behind partially resistant bacteria. Others reuse leftover antibiotics or share them with family members, unaware that dosage and duration vary by condition and type of infection.
Experts stress that antibiotic resistance develops in bacteria, not in the human body, and warn that avoiding antibiotics altogether for children with genuine bacterial infections can be dangerous. When prescribed correctly, antibiotics are safe for children with normal kidney and liver function.
KDCA officials said the findings highlight the need for better public education. “Colds resolve naturally, but people often attribute recovery to antibiotics, making it difficult to dispel the misconception,” one official said.
Public health authorities are expected to intensify campaigns to reduce misuse — a crucial step in combating antibiotic resistance, which the World Health Organization has identified as one of the world’s most urgent health threats.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
