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Oregon Health Authority

Patient Information Sheets for Upper Respiratory Infections

Antibiotics only cure infections caused by bacteria

boy holding his face and squinting as if in pain from a cold or headache
Antibiotics don't work against infections caused by viruses, like a cold or the flu.

The following information sheets are helpful if you or your child have upper respiratory symptoms and aren't sure what kind of treatment you need.

Click the links below to view each information sheet (pdf format). Information sheets were created by Oregon AWARE and the Oregon Health Authority.

Earache information sheet 

icon with outline of an ear

What causes earaches, when earaches need antibiotics and symptom relief.


English 

Español [Spanish]

Pусский язык [Russian]

tiếng Việt [Vietnamese]


Cold information sheet

icon with outline of a nose

What causes colds, when colds need antibiotics and practical cold treatment. 


English

Español [Spanish]

Pусский язык [Russian]

tiếng Việt [Vietnamese]


Cough information sheet

icon with an outline of someone coughing

What causes coughs, when coughs need antibiotics and practical cough treatment. 


English

Español [Spanish]

Pусский язык [Russian]

tiếng Việt [Vietnamese]

Sinus information sheet

icon with an outline of a sun

What is sinusitis, when antibiotics help and practical sinus treatment. 


English

Español [Spanish]

Pусский язык [Russian]

tiếng Việt [Vietnamese]


Sore throat information sheet

icon with an outline of a person's mouth, chin and throat

What causes sore throats, when antibiotics help and practical sore throat treatment. 


English

Español [Spanish]

Pусский язык [Russian]

tiếng Việt [Vietnamese]