With the new year come a lot of colds and flu’s. It is not necessary to come to the doctor in the first day or two of a new cold. Most of these infections last between 5 and 10 days and will go away without any medicine. You can take paracetamol and/or ibuprofen to relieve the discomfort of fevers, chills and aches and pains but once these medicines wear off the problems will return so you have to keep taking regular doses. Sadly, antibiotics have no effect against a cold or flu.