Common cold

I have noticed that recently a lot of people have been infected by common cold and flu viruses. In my office of about 20 employees, at least five were infected at the same time. When one got better, others were infected. It seems that the viruses won't go away, but move from person to person. I am one of the victims of the viral infection.

To cure colds and the flu, I usually take over-the-counter medicine. I can find a lot of brands and most of them contain phenylpropanolamine, which recently has been proven to be a contributor to strokes. If the viruses remains in my body after I take the medicine, I will see a doctor. A doctor then will prescribe antibiotics, among other medicines. I don't know if some doctors disagree with the practice of prescribing antibiotics for colds and the flu, but from what I know antibiotics kill bacteria not viruses. If it is a virus causing the cold or the flu, then our body is supplied with the wrong medication: antibiotics.

I have read from several sources on the Internet that colds and the flu will go away without the use of medicine. If this is the case, maybe the Ministry of Health can cooperate with the media -- print or electronic -- to begin a campaign to inform people how to combat colds and the flu. Through this campaign the ministry, which is responsible for the community's health, could educate the community about how to prevent the most common diseases.

ADRIANUS HIYUNG TJUNG

Jakarta