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5 harmful effects of going overboard with antibiotics
Posted on: 15/Mar/2023 3:52:29 PM
Authored by Dr. Bindumathi P L, Sr. Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore
Antibiotics are the most common antimicrobial substances that are actively used to fight bacteria by killing or suppressing their growth. However, with the advent of technology and easy access to information, many people are now commonly taking these drugs without a proper prescription, which has led to a rise in the number of cases related to antimicrobial resistance and side effects.
Overuse or unnecessary consumption of antibiotics can cause serious health issues such as -
Gut flora Upset:
Bacteria that help in maintaining a balance in the gut and ensure proper digestion and immunity are known as gut flora. Consumption or overuse of antibiotics can cause an imbalance in the gut and wipe out a significant proportion of these bacteria, which can result in several health issues.
Diarrhoea:
Many people often resort to antibiotics to treat common colds or flu in children as well as adults, which often results in several unwanted side effects. As per a study by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), children that are administered antibiotics routinely for upper respiratory infections like cough and cold, etc. are more susceptible to bacterial antibiotic-resistant strains known as C. diff. C. diff is found in the human gut and can cause severe diarrhoea. This bacteria has led to thousands of deaths among children and adults every year. Lethal side effects like anaphylaxis, Steven Johnson syndrome, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and arrhythmias can also occur.
Fungal infections:
While antibiotics are designed to kill harmful bacteria, however, they often kill good bacteria too, which helps protect people from fungal infections. Due to this, people who consume antibiotics often fall prey to fungal infections in certain parts of their bodies, like the mouth, throat, and vagina.
Drug interactions:
Antibiotics sometimes also interact with other medications and make them less effective against a disease. These combinations can also worsen the side effects of the other drug or antibiotics. Certain antibiotics induce liver enzymes, which increase or decrease the potency of a few antibiotics, cardiac drugs, antiepileptic drugs, and combination drugs.
Antimicrobial Resistance:
Bacteria try to change their structure or release certain enzymes in order to survive when antibiotics are constantly used, due to which resistance develops to the antibiotics that were previously used to treat patients. For example, the same antibiotic that was previously used for typhoid, fever, andnd respiratory infections will no longer be effective to treat the same disease. eg- Earlier, diseases like tuberculosis used to require only 3–4 drugs for 6 months, but now that there is resistance, 9–11 drugs are required for 1.5–2 years.
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