Antibiotics and the Adult Sore Throat--An Unnecessary Ceremony

Herz M J. Antibiotics and the adult sore throat—an unnecessaryceremony. Family Practice 1988, 5: 196–199. Antibiotics are overprescribed for patients with sore throatsfor many reasons, including the difficulties in diagnosing thecause of the symptom, as well as the pharmacological and placebostrength of antibiotics. Two hundred adult patients presentingto one general practitioner were divided into two groups. Onegroup was given an antibiotic, the efficacy of which was stressed,and the other group was given symptomatic treatment with anexplanation that no antibiotic was needed. Six months afterthe initial consultation the patients' notes were checked forreturn visits with respiratory complaints. Significantly morepatients who received an antibiotic returned to the doctor withrespiratory problems, especially young men. During the study,few patients resisted either a high or low prescribing policy.It is concluded that antibiotic treatment for sore throats didnot prevent complications for the patient. Furthermore, highantibiotic prescribing created more work for the doctor by increasingthe repeat visit rate. Patients were equally compliant witha high or low antibiotic prescribing policy.