Antibiotic use in viral infections

Dr,

If antibiotics are ineffective for viral fever and other infections, why do people feel better after a few doses of the same in case of viral illnesses? Is it placebo effect or is it just that the secondary effects of viral infection are taken care of and people feel better?

Thanks

Chitra

The reason is due to multiple factors. The first one is the main reason.

Normal course of a viral infection is 4 to 7 days. So recovery with or without antibiotics is the rule in an uncomplicated viral infection-typically cold.
Placebo effect is for sure one of the reason
As you have mentioned along with antibiotics other symptomatic therapies including antihistamines, paracetamol etc gives some amount of relief.

Dr.Subramanian M.D