Recent reports of Lancet journal are confirming antibiotics to be having no effect at all upon persistent cough that is caused by mild chest infections.

Above are the findings of a study that was recently performed by researchers to notice the effect of the antibiotics upon cough.

Study concluded that antibiotics are ineffective in treating patients with persistent coughs, which is caused by mild chest infections.

During the study, the researchers got an illness diary filled by approx 2,000 patients from across 12 European countries. They noticed no difference in the severity and duration of symptoms in patients, whom were treated with antibiotics and those, who were given a placebo.

But yes, this does not mean that antibiotics are not necessary for the disease's severity like that of pneumonia, which experts caution, if is suspected, should be treated with antibiotics at the earliest possible.

Paul Little from the University of Southampton led the research. He said: "Using the antibiotic amoxicillin to treat respiratory infections in patients not suspected of having pneumonia is not likely to help and could be harmful".

He has suggested avoiding overuse of antibiotics, as they can lead to development of resistance and can also have side-effects like diarrhoea, rashes and vomiting.