Got a cough? You probably shouldn't bother taking antibiotics for it

If you find yourself suffering from a cough this winter, newly published researched suggests that taking antibiotics won't help you treat it — and could even do you harm in the long run. After monitoring 2,000 patients from 12 European countries, researchers from the University of Southampton, England, concluded that the common antibiotic amoxicillin is no better at easing the symptoms of coughs caused by chest infections than a placebo. The researchers warned that taking unnecessary antibiotics can result in side effects like diarrhea, rashes and vomiting, and lead to drug resistance. [Source]

Click to see more on msnNOW.com, updated 24 hours a day.