For many common illnesses there is often little that a doctor can do to hasten recovery. This page provides information on these illnesses, their symptoms and how best to manage the condition.

Antibiotics

The most common request we receive is for antibiotics. However antibiotics are rarely suited to these illnesses, the majority of which are caused by viruses. There are many reasons not to prescribe antibiotics including:

• Viruses do not respond to antibiotics
• They do not relieve symptoms such as fever or pain and will not shorten the illness for most people.
• They can cause unwanted side-effects such as diarrhoea, thrush and skin rashes.
• Prolonged use of antibiotics can reduce your resistance to infection.
• Resistance to antibiotics is an increasing problem meaning fewer bacteria respond to antibiotics when you have a genuinely serious or life-threatening infection.

Exceptions

You definitely should arrange to see a doctor if:

• Your baby is ill and is under 6 weeks old.
• You have a serious pre-existing problem, for example diabetes, moderate/severe asthma, or cancer.
• You have symptoms that indicate a more significant underlying problem, such as an adverse reaction to light or a rash suggesting meningitis.

For further advice on a much wider range of common illnesses, please visit the NHS Direct website.