MEDICS have pleaded with patients not to use antibiotics in a bid to cure winter coughs and colds amid fears using the wrong medication could put people at serious risk.

Clinical commissioners in Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire are campaigning to prevent these kinds of medication, which are usually used to treat and prevent the spread of bacterial infections, being deployed against common colds.

MORE TOP STORIES:

If used regularly on viral infections, according to leading doctors, they can generate an ‘antibiotics resistance’ which lessens their impact when they are needed the most.

The commissioners have been joined by Public Health England, which has found one in four people in the North West remain unaware of the issue.

Dr Chris Clayton, Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) chief clinical officer, said: “Many people wrongly assume that antibiotics are a cure-all remedy for their winter illness but in reality they have no effect on colds, flu and the majority of coughs and sore throats.

“Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections and bacteria find ways to become immune to the antibiotics that we take, making them less effective and in some cases stopping them from working altogether.

“The more we use antibiotics, the less effective they become so it’s essential that we use them sensibly.”

Dr Phil Huxley, East Lancashire CCG chairman, said: “We can all do our bit to limit antibiotic resistance for simple colds antibiotics will not work and could cause harm, contributing to antibiotic resistance.”

“It’s important to remember that antibiotics aren’t necessarily the answer to your problems and in many cases it’s best to let your body fight off infection by itself.

“Pharmacists may be able to recommend over-the-counter remedies to ease the symptoms of winter illness.”

Public health chiefs estimate around 5,000 deaths occur each year in the UK as a result of people becoming immune to the benefits of antibiotics.

The agency has launched a campaign video showing the effects of a world in which common infections, routine operations and minor injuries may kill., because of antibiotics resistance.