According to the committee discussion, acute cough, either associated with an upper respiratory tract infection or acute bronchitis, is usually a self-limiting infection. It is often a viral infection, and antibiotics are not usually needed.
Recommendations on when antibiotics are not required, are required immediately, or as back-up
Recommendations on the choice of antibiotic
- A narrow-spectrum antibiotic should generally be first choice, when an antibiotic is needed.
- Where an antibiotic is appropriate, doxycycline at usual dose is recommended, as the first-choice antibiotic for adults with acute cough (including acute bronchitis), in non-pregnant adults, and in young people >12 years.
- Amoxicillin, clarithromycin or erythromycin should be offered as alternative first choices; for children and young people, amoxicillin is recommended as the first-choice antibiotic in such scenario.
Recommendations on antibiotic course length
- The shortest course that is likely to be effective should be prescribed. A 5-day course for all the recommended antibiotics is sufficient to treat acute cough.