Is an upper respiratory track infection the same as a cold?

I did a search here on this board Y!A for upper respiratory track infections and people are telling others that a URI is NOT the same thing as a cold. However when I go to the hospital they tell me that a URI is the SAME thing as a cold.

Also people have been saying that you HAVE to have an antibiotic to treat an URI. When the doctor I see says you do NOT need an antibiotic unless you develop a secondary bacterial infection along with the URI, such as sinusitis, bronchitis or strep throat.

Who is right? Those people on Y!A or my doctor?

They are one and the same..you do not take antibiotics for a cold {uri} you will build up a tolerance for the drug and someday you may really need it and it won't work, your Dr. is 100% right..listen to him/her. What kind of degree do those other people have?..certainly not a medical degree. I would be inclined to believe the person with a medical degree..

Everyone will have their own opinion about what is the right treatment for an URTI, however if it is not severe, you need to remember that your body's immune system will deal with it itself. Whilst you can go on antibiotics for an URTI, you may not actually get over it any quicker and you will inhibit your body's own immune response. This may mean that next time you get another URTI your body isn't able to respond as well to it. A 'cold' is just an easy term given to an URTI. They are the same thing.

Get well soon!

the basic fact underlying this is:

bacterial cold/infections are treated w/antibiotics.

viral cold/infections are NOT. these are the ones that the doctor WON'T give you drugs for, because viruses don't respond to antibiotics, the cold needs to run its course naturally.

if you remember this fact about bacteria vs virus, you'll be able to ask your doctor/nurse/people which one they have. the treatments are different and the cause is different. different!