Question

Common cold is not cured by antibiotics because:

• A. It is caused by a bacteria
• B. It is not an infectious disease
• C. It is caused by a virus
• D. It is cured by vaccines

Answer 1

The correct option is C It is caused by a virus

Common cold is caused by viruses called Rhinovirus. Antibiotics are anti-bacterial, hence viruses do not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics mostly block the biochemical pathways which are important for the bacteria. But viruses do not use these pathways. Hence, antibiotics are not used for viral infections. The only method to combat viral infections is by means of vaccines or antiviral drugs. However, no vaccine or antiviral drug has been proved to completely cure common cold till now. But they may prove effective in milding the symptoms.