choice of antibiotic in acute cough

Last edited 06/2021 and last reviewed 06/2021

Choice of antibiotic

Antibiotics in the presentation of cough are only indicated in specific scenarios (1,2):

Acute cough - decision schemata (1):

Antibiotics for adults aged 18 years and over (2,7)

First choice:

  • doxycycline - 200 mg on first day, then 100 mg once a day for 4 days (5-day course in total)

Alternative first choices:

  • Amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for 5 days OR
  • Clarithromycin 250 mg to 500 mg twice a day for 5 days OR
  • Erythromycin 250 mg to 500 mg four times a day or 500 mg to 1,000 mg twice a day for 5 days

Notes:

  • See BNF for appropriate use and dosing in specific populations, for example, hepatic impairment, renal impairment, pregnancy and breast-feeding.
  • Doses given are by mouth using immediate-release medicines, unless otherwise stated.
  • Doxycycline should not be given to pregnant women, and the possibility of pregnancy should be considered in women of childbearing age (BNF, December 2018)
  • Amoxicillin or erythromycin are preferred in women who are pregnant.

 

Antibiotics for children and young people under 18 years

First choice:

  • Amoxicillin
    • 1 to 11 months, 125 mg three times a day for 5 days
    • 1 to 4 years, 250 mg three times a day for 5 days
    • 5 to 17 years, 500 mg three times a day for 5 days

Alternative First Choice antibiotics:

      • Clarithromycin
        • 1 month to 11 years:
          • Under 8 kg, 7.5 mg/kg twice a day for 5 days
          • 8 to 11 kg, 62.5 mg twice a day for 5 days
          • 12 to 19 kg, 125 mg twice a day for 5 days
          • 20 to 29 kg, 187.5 mg twice a day for 5 days
          • 30 to 40 kg, 250 mg twice a day for 5 days
        • 12 to 17 years, 250 mg to 500 mg twice a day for 5 days

    • OR

      • Erythromycin
        • 1 month to 1 year, 125 mg four times a day or 250 mg twice a day for 5 days
        • 2 to 7 years, 250 mg four times a day or 500 mg twice a day for 5 days
        • 8 to 17 years, 250 mg to 500 mg four times a day or 500 mg to 1,000 mg twice a day for 5 days

    • OR
      • Doxycycline 12 to 17 years, 200 mg on first day, then 100 mg once a day for 4 days (5-day course in total)

        Notes:

        • See BNF for children for appropriate use and dosing in specific populations, for example, hepatic impairment and renal impairment.
        • The age bands apply to children of average size and, in practice, the prescriber will use the age bands in conjunction with other factors such as the severity of the condition and the child's size in relation to the average size of children of the same age. Doses given are by mouth using immediate-release medicines, unless otherwise stated.
        • Amoxicillin or erythromycin are preferred in young women who are pregnant
        • Doxycycline should not be given to young women who are pregnant, and the possibility of pregnancy should be considered in young women of childbearing age (BNF for children, December 2018)

General Points regarding managing cough (1,2,3,4,5,6):

  • the need of urgent medical admission (in an adult) can be based on the assessment of factors including:
    • respiratory rate - more than 30 breaths per minute
    • blood pressure - systolic pressure <90 mmHg, or diastolic pressure <60 mmHg
    • pulse - more than 130 beats per minute
    • temperature
    • altered level of consciousness (1,5)
    • oxygen saturation level - < 92%, or central cyanosis
    • peak expiratory flow rate - < 33% of predicted (6)

  • patients at higher risk of complications - these are defined as:
    • if they:
      • have a pre-existing comorbidity, such as significant heart, lung, renal, liver or neuromuscular disease, immunosuppression or cystic fibrosis
      • are young children who were born prematurely
      • are older than 65 years with 2 or more of the following criteria, or older than 80 years with 1 or more of the following criteria:
        • hospitalisation in previous year
        • type 1 or type 2 diabetes
        • history of congestive heart failure
        • current use of oral corticosteroids

  • when an immediate antibiotic prescription is given, give advice about possible adverse effects of the antibiotic, particularly diarrhoea and nausea

  • when a back-up antibiotic prescription is given, give advice about:
    • an antibiotic not being needed immediately
    • using the back-up prescription if symptoms worsen rapidly or significantly at any time

  • Acute cough associated with an upper respiratory tract infection

    • do not offer an antibiotic to treat an acute cough associated with an upper respiratory tract infection in people who are not systemically very unwell or at higher risk of complications

  • limited evidence suggests that antihistamines, decongestants and codeine-containing cough medicines do not help cough symptoms

Reference

Related pages:

acute cough