Antibiotics - benefits and harms, side effects, consequences of use. The effect of antibiotics on the human body and the child. Harm or benefit of antibiotics or how to reduce the risk of developing the consequences of taking them

- drugs, without which you can not do in the fight against dangerous bacterial diseases. But in some cases, taking antibiotics can be harmful to health, causing serious disorders in the body.

Antibiotic (antibioticum) translated from Latin means "against life."

The first antibiotic (penicillin) obtained from mold had a narrow spectrum of activity and was safe for human health. However, modern antibiotics of a new generation kill all bacteria without exception that are in the body, including beneficial ones. After taking them, the microflora is disturbed, and the immune system is greatly weakened.

So that taking antibiotics does not worsen the patient's condition, it is important not only to observe the correct dosage, but also to have an idea about the possible consequences of treatment.

Antibiotics - benefits and harms, side effects

Antibacterial drugs are effective for:

• treatment of infectious diseases of the nasopharynx
• severe diseases of the skin (furunculosis, hydradenitis) and mucous membranes
• bronchitis and pneumonia
• infections of the genitourinary system
• severe poisoning

Often, antibiotics are used thoughtlessly and uncontrollably. There will be no benefit from such a “treatment”, but you can harm the body. Antibacterial drugs are absolutely ineffective in the treatment of viral diseases. For example, using them for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza only adds to the burden on the body and makes it difficult to recover.

Side effects of antibiotic therapy:

• dysbacteriosis
• allergic manifestations
• toxic effect on the liver, kidneys, ENT organs
• development of microbial resistance to antibiotics
• intoxication of the body resulting from the death of microbes
• violation of the formation of immunity
• high chance of recurrence after antibiotic treatment ends

IMPORTANT: Long-term use of antibiotics will necessarily have side effects, the main of which is harm to the intestinal microflora.

Video: Antibiotics benefit and harm

How do antibiotics affect and act on viruses and inflammation?

Virus- a protein structure containing a nucleic acid inside. The viral envelope proteins serve as protection for the preservation of hereditary gene information. During reproduction, viruses reproduce copies of themselves, also equipped with parental genes. In order to multiply successfully, viruses have to make their way inside healthy cells.

If you try to act with an antibiotic on a virus-infected cell, nothing will happen to the virus, because the action of antibiotics is aimed solely at preventing the formation of a cell wall or suppressing protein biosynthesis. Since viruses do not have cell walls or ribosomes, the antibiotic will be absolutely useless.

In other words, the structure of viruses differs from the structure of antibiotic-sensitive bacteria, therefore, special antiviral drugs are used to suppress the work of viral proteins and interrupt their vital activity.

IMPORTANT: Doctors often prescribe antibiotics in the treatment of viral diseases. This is done to overcome the bacterial complication that occurs against the background of a viral disease.

How do antibiotics affect and act on the heart?

It is a mistake to think that taking antibiotics does not affect the state of the cardiovascular system. The proof of this is the results of an experiment conducted by Danish scientists in 1997-2011. During this time, researchers have processed the results of treatment of more than 5 million people.

For the experiment, volunteers aged 40 to 74 took antibiotics for 7 days, often used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and ENT infections. As a result of the experiment, it turned out that taking antibiotics such as roxithromycin and clarithromycin increases the risk of cardiac arrest by 75%.

IMPORTANT: In the course of the experiment, it turned out that penicillin is the least dangerous for the heart. Doctors should pay attention to this fact and, if possible, choose this drug for treatment.
In addition, antibiotics slightly increase the electrical activity of the heart, which can trigger arrhythmia.

How do antibiotics affect the intestinal microflora, protein digestion?

Antibiotics inhibit the growth of intestinal microflora, gradually destroying it. These drugs are hostile to intestinal bacteria and at the same time resistant to their influence. Thus, taking antibiotics is a step towards suppressing the vital activity of beneficial microbes and their death.

Normal microflora will not be able to recover immediately due to a "hole" in the immune system.
Against this background, new diseases often flare up, the normal functioning of systems, organs and tissues is disrupted.

All dietary macronutrients, including proteins, are digested in the upper small intestine. At the same time, a small amount of proteins enter the large intestine undigested. Here, undigested proteins are decomposed into amino acids with the help of microbes that inhabit the large intestine.

As a result of the breakdown of proteins in the large intestine, compounds dangerous to human health can be formed. Their number is so small that with normal microflora they do not have time to cause harm.

However, long-term use of antibiotics can reduce the diversity of the microbiome, making proteins harder to digest and slowing the elimination of harmful compounds from the gut.

How do antibiotics affect conception, spermogram, pregnancy, fetus?

Taking antibacterial drugs somewhat reduces, but does not exclude, the likelihood of pregnancy. If the body of the father or mother at the time of conception was affected by strong antibiotics, a miscarriage is likely to occur.

The greatest danger from antibiotics for the fetus is up to 13 weeks, the most negative period is 3-6 weeks. During this period, organs are formed in the child, and exposure to potent antibacterial drugs will provoke the development of pathologies in the fetus.

Taking antibiotics is the cause of inhibition of spermatogenesis. Male fertility is reduced for a long time if antibacterial drugs are taken at an early stage of spermatogenesis.

Video: The effect of antibiotics on spermograms

Against the background of antibiotics, spermatozoa in most cases are damaged and lose their mobility. These defects lead to spontaneous miscarriage if such spermatozoa took part in fertilization.

After taking antibiotics, it takes about 3 months for the sperm quality to recover and the spremogram to return to normal. It is through this time that it is permissible to plan a pregnancy. If the conception happened earlier and the development of the embryo proceeds without pathologies and deviations, then everything is in order with the sperm.

How do antibiotics affect breast milk?

If during breastfeeding a woman needs antibiotic therapy, then this type of treatment should not be abandoned. All antibiotics can be divided into 2 groups:

• permitted during lactation
• prohibited during lactation

The first group includes:

• Penicillins (Augmentin, Ospamox, etc.) - penetrate into breast milk in small concentrations, but can cause allergic reactions and cause loose stools in a child and mother.
• Macrolides (Erythromycin, Clarithromycin) - penetrate well into breast milk, but do not have a negative effect on the child's condition.
• Cefolasporins (Cefradin, Ceftriaxone) - penetrate milk in negligible doses, do not affect the growth and development of the child.

Antibiotics prohibited during breastfeeding include:

• Sulfonamides - disrupt the exchange of bilirubin in the body of an infant, which can cause the development of jaundice.
• Lincomycin - penetrates into milk in large quantities, disrupts the functioning of the intestines of the child.
• Tetracyclines - penetrate into milk, destroy the tooth enamel and bones of the baby.
• Aminoglycosides are highly toxic, adversely affect the state of the child's hearing organs and kidneys.
• Fluoroquinolones - penetrate into milk in quantities unsafe for the health of the child, disrupt the normal development of cartilage tissue.
• Clindomycin - causes the development of colitis.

If antibiotics of the second group are prescribed to a nursing mother, there can be no talk of any breastfeeding during the treatment period.

When taking drugs from the first group during breastfeeding, the following rules must be observed:

• tell the doctor that the baby is breastfeeding
• do not change the prescribed dose of the drug yourself
• take medicine immediately after breastfeeding

IMPORTANT: To ensure a supply of breast milk during treatment, express any excess after each feed and store in the freezer. After the end of the course of antibiotics, it will be possible to fully restore lactation.

Almost all antibiotics are excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, if their work changes even slightly, signs of intoxication are likely to appear in the body.

Aminoglycosides and tetracyclines can damage the kidney tissue. The risk is especially high in the case of combining drugs of these groups with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or hormonal drugs. Then, in the analysis of urine, the indicators of erythrocytes and leukocytes will be overestimated, which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process of the genitourinary system.

IMPORTANT: Some antibiotics can change the color of urine (rifampicin makes it bright orange, and nitroxoline makes it rich yellow) and contribute to the formation of kidney stones. During and after taking sulfonamides, ciprofloxacin and nitroxoline, epithelial cells, erythrocytes and protein are found in the urine.

Taking broad-spectrum antibiotics can cause the absence of urobilinogen in the urine.
Antibiotics cannot significantly affect the results of a general blood test. The only thing you should pay attention to is the ESR and the leukocyte formula. It is likely that these data will be somewhat distorted.

How do antibiotics affect hormones?

Certain medications can affect hormones, but antibiotics are not. Before taking tests for hormones or carrying out any treatment, it is necessary to warn the doctor about taking an antibacterial drug. But, unequivocally, the hormonal background will not change in any way from antibiotics of any group.

Antibiotics do not affect the menstrual cycle. It's easy enough to explain. The menstrual cycle has two phases. In the first phase, follicles mature in the ovary under the action of the pituitary gland. At the same time, the endometrium grows in the uterus under the influence of estrogens. The second phase is characterized by the release of luteotropic hormone in the pituitary gland and the appearance of a mature egg.

In addition to hormones, nothing can affect the process of egg maturation. Since hormones do not change from the action of antibacterial drugs, their intake will not affect the menstrual cycle.

How do antibiotics affect potency?

Serious antibiotics can adversely affect male potency. But if, after taking antibacterial drugs, a man notices a decrease in sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, which cause reluctance to have sex, then you should not worry too much. After a short period of time after the end of treatment, sexual life will return to normal.

IMPORTANT: Despite the fact that potency is restored almost immediately after the end of antibiotics, it will be necessary to wait a little while planning pregnancy. The qualitative composition of the sperm will be restored only 3 months after the end of treatment.

How do antibiotics affect the immune system?

Antibiotics kill indiscriminately the bacteria - both harmful and beneficial - that inhabit the intestines and maintain balance in the body. As a result, a serious failure occurs in the immune system.

The uncontrolled growth of yeast fungi disrupts the intestines - allergic reactions to food occur, intestinal permeability increases, diarrhea appears, and abdominal pain after eating. In women, thrush often develops against the background of taking strong antibiotics. At the same time, a general deterioration in well-being, lethargy and poor appetite are normal phenomena.

IMPORTANT: The immune system will suffer the more, the longer it will be affected by the antibiotic. In this case, the method of administration of the drug does not matter.

In order to somewhat soften the blow to immunity, it is recommended to strictly observe the dosage of the antibiotic and take the probiotics and vitamins prescribed by the doctor.

How do antibiotics affect blood pressure?

If the patient strictly follows the doctor's instructions, he will not notice any serious changes in his body while taking antibiotics. However, even a slight deviation from the rules for taking antibacterial drugs can lead to serious consequences.

So the pressure can rise sharply, and malfunctions will appear in the work of the cardiovascular system if, during antibiotic treatment, the patient consumed an alcoholic drink or added any drug on his own.

If the patient notes that each antibiotic is accompanied by a change in blood pressure, he should inform the doctor about this. Perhaps the prescribed treatment regimen needs to be adjusted.

How do antibiotics affect the stomach, pancreas?

The pancreas and stomach are the most sensitive organs to antibiotics. Violations in their work occur due to a decrease in the protective resident flora and an increase in the number of pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, a number of complex chemical reactions occur in the gastrointestinal tract, which are impossible in the case of normal functioning of organs.

IMPORTANT: Signs that negative changes have occurred in the gastrointestinal tract after taking antibiotics are stomach pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea. To minimize the risk of these side effects, probiotics are prescribed.

How do antibiotics affect the liver, kidneys?

Liver It is a kind of filter in the body. If the liver is absolutely healthy, for some time it will be able to withstand the increased load without any problems, neutralizing toxic substances. But if liver function is impaired, antibiotic therapy must necessarily be accompanied by the use of hepatoprotectors (Urosan, Gepabene, Karsil).

kidneys- an organ that cleanses the blood of harmful substances and maintains the acid-base balance in the body. With healthy kidneys, short-term use of antibiotics will not have a negative effect.

However, diseases of the urinary system or prolonged use of antibiotics can cause changes in the processes of excretion and absorption of chemical elements, the development of pathological reactions.

IMPORTANT: Signs that antibiotics have disrupted the functioning of the kidneys are lower back pain, changes in the amount and color of urine, fever.

How do antibiotics affect the nervous system?

To find out the effect of antibiotics on the nervous system, scientists at the Center for Molecular Medicine conducted a series of studies, which revealed the following:

• short-term use of antibiotics does not affect the functioning and condition of the nervous system
• prolonged use of antibiotics not only destroys intestinal bacteria, but also slows down
• production of brain cells, leading to memory impairment
• the restoration of the nervous system is facilitated by the intake of immunomodulators and probiotics during the recovery period, as well as exercise

How do antibiotics affect hearing?

Some antibiotics have been shown to accumulate in ear fluid and cause pathological changes leading to hearing loss and deafness. These drugs include:

• streptomycin
• kanamycin
• neomycin
• kanamycin
• gentamicin
• tobramycin
• amikacin
• netilmicin
• sisomycin
• tetracyclines
• erythromycin
• azithromycin
• vancomycin
• polymyxin B
• colistin
• gramicidin
• bacitracin
• mupirocin

The fact that the drugs have side effects in the form of hearing impairment is stated in the instructions for the medicine. However, they are widely used in therapeutic and pediatric practice.

How do antibiotics affect teeth?

To find out the effect of antibacterial drugs on the condition of the teeth, medical scientists from Finland conducted a series of experiments, as a result of which it turned out that:

• taking penicillin and macrolide in children from 1 to 3 years of age increases the risk of developing defects in their tooth enamel
• in school-age children, taking antibiotics in many cases leads to enamel demineralization
  most often, demineralization occurs after taking antibiotics of the macrolide group (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
• each new intake of antibacterial drugs increases the risk of developing enamel defects
• the result of frequent treatment of children with antibiotics is molar incisor hypomineralization and caries
• restoration of damaged teeth after a course of antibiotics is quickly destroyed

The negative effect of antibiotics on the tooth enamel of people over 14 years of age is not so pronounced, but their long-term use can also cause harm.

Long-term use of antibiotics lowers hemoglobin. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the body is trying to recover on its own, consuming organic iron compounds for this. Iron is necessary for the formation of nuclei of leukocytes.

Accordingly, the more serious the treatment, the more antibiotics disrupt the functions of organs and systems, the more iron the body spends on attempts to restore.

Hemoglobin levels will return to normal faster if you add pomegranate, beef and dried apricots to the menu. Medicinal iron-containing preparations such as Ferrum Lek, Sorbifer, Totem and others will also help.

The rate at which antibiotics are eliminated from the body is affected by its form, group and route of administration. Many injectable drugs are excreted from the body after 8-12 hours after the last injection. Suspensions and tablets act in the body for 12-24 hours. The body fully recovers only after 3 months after treatment.

IMPORTANT: How long the drug will stay in the body depends on the age and condition of the patient. The withdrawal of antibiotics is slowed down in people suffering from diseases of the liver, genitourinary system, kidneys, as well as in young children.

To remove the antibiotic as soon as possible, you must:

• drink plenty of water and herbal teas
• restore liver function with drugs
• apply probiotics
• eat enough dairy products

How to cleanse and restore the body after antibiotics?

After the end of taking antibiotics, you need to take care of the restoration of the body. If this is not done, the emergence of a new disease is possible in the near future.

First of all, in order to exclude favorable conditions for the development of pathogenic flora, a diet should be organized. To do this, it is necessary to remove confectionery and bakery products, sugar, potatoes from the diet. Replace milk with fermented milk products containing bifidobacteria. Adhere to this diet for about 3 months.

Together with dietary nutrition, the recovery of the body is facilitated by the intake of immunomodulatory drugs, vitamin complexes and bacteriophages that suppress pathogenic flora.

Only an integrated approach can give a lasting positive result in solving the problem of cleansing and restoring the body after antibiotics.

Video: What happens after antibiotics?

After treatment with antibiotics, the body needs to recover. Antibiotics are a separate group of drugs designed to combat pathogens. These medicines are used for serious diseases such as otitis media, tonsillitis, pneumonia and purulent infections.

Antibiotics are able to insure against complications after treatment. Their purpose is to help the body, or rather, its immune system, in the process of neutralizing the pathogen. However, the specific nature of these drugs implies rather severe consequences of their use. Therefore, it is important to know how best to receive and carry them out. recovery from antibiotics, normalization of the body.
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Antibiotic treatment, consequences

Basic rules for taking antibiotics

Adverse reactions are expressed by malfunctions in the activity of human organs and systems, which is often provoked by drug therapy. The negative impact of antibiotics ends with the end of treatment, although the body may also need to be restored.

Among all groups of antibiotics, the most low-toxic, such as penicillins, and potent ones can be distinguished. However, the degree of their influence will still be determined by the individual characteristics of the organism.

The harm from antibiotic therapy can be minimized if you strictly follow the attached instructions and follow the recommendations of the doctor. The doctor, after examining the patient, will determine for him the optimal dose of the drug, the frequency and method of administration. You can minimize side effects if you follow the rules for taking antibiotics:

Take the drug strictly at a certain time, so as not to violate a certain concentration of the active substance and not cause pathogens to become addicted to it;

Digestive disorders

Antibiotic treatment often causes complications and difficulties in the activity of the digestive system: diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, nausea, spasms, etc. These adverse reactions often accompany treatment with broad-spectrum drugs.

This is explained by the irritating effect of active substances on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and most often it manifests itself in drugs in the form of capsules and tablets. Injections do not have such a side effect, and even in such cases, drugs are taken after meals, then discomfort can be avoided.

When the course of treatment is completed, the problems with digestion disappear. Otherwise, there is reason to talk about a violation of the intestinal microflora, in other words, about dysbacteriosis. This is due to the very prescription of antibiotics: they destroy all microorganisms, including favorable ones, those that live in the intestines and are engaged in the normalization of its work.

After some time, dysbacteriosis self-destructs, in other words, the microflora is restored without any third-party interventions. But you can speed up this process if you drink a course of probiotics - preparations enriched with live bacteria. Often the therapist prescribes them as an accompanying remedy for antibiotics.

In addition to violations of the activity of the digestive tract, dysbacteriosis can manifest itself in other, more important areas. Malfunctions of the intestines block the production of serotonin, biotin, folic acid, vitamins B and K. In this regard, dysbacteriosis is often accompanied by beriberi, which can negatively affect the performance of many organs and entire systems. Therefore, it is advisable to take multivitamin complexes after therapy for some time.

Allergy

Recovery after antibiotics

At the end of therapy, restoration of the intestinal microflora is required. So not only unpleasant signs will disappear, but the immune system will noticeably get stronger, vitamins will be better absorbed and distributed throughout the body.

Of the recommended probiotic supplements, Bifiform, Hilak-Forte, Acipol, Lineks can be called. They contain lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Correction of the diet will contribute to the rapid absorption of probiotics, this requires fiber, plant foods, sour milk.

And it is better to use, if possible, folk remedies: - a natural antibiotic.

ATTENTION:

Do not self-medicate!

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Despite their relatively recent appearance, antibiotics quickly gained popularity and became popular among the people as practically a “cure for everything”. This is due to the fact that the discovery of antibiotics has become a powerful breakthrough in the field of medicine. However, another part of the population believes that antibiotics are a real poison, which even a severe bacterial infection that threatens life will not force them to take.

We will provide answers to several popular questions about antibacterial drugs. Perhaps this will help to look at the problem more objectively, without becoming careless and without turning into alarmists.

What was before antibiotics?

We must understand that before the discovery of antibiotics, everything was bad. Even more. The ideas that every three-year-old child knows today thanks to antibacterial soap advertisements were not at all common then. The thing is that no one knew about the existence of bacteria. They were first seen with an optical microscope only in 1676. But even after that, no one could prove that they are the causative agents of diseases for a long time until 1850. Then Louis Pasteur coped with this task, who came up with pasteurization (and not “ pasteurization" as many people think).

Pasteur realized that heating liquids, such as milk, would get rid of many bacteria and prolong the shelf life of food.

In the wake of interest in the influence of bacteria on the occurrence of diseases, it was possible to dramatically reduce mortality from open wounds and during childbirth. Doctors began to disinfect their hands and instruments (previously it was not considered mandatory), Koch received the Nobel Prize for tuberculosis research, and Flemming synthesized penicillin in 1928 and proved its effectiveness.

It is interesting that before the work on the description of the antibacterial properties of drugs already existed. For example, salvarsan is a “saving arsenic” that managed to cure syphilis. The medicine was, to put it mildly, not safe, but it gave hope for recovery to the terminally ill, so it was actively used.

These examples proved the effectiveness of using microbes in war with each other and provoked the emergence of a huge number of antibiotics: today the number of compounds known to us reaches 7000! However, over the past 40 years, no breakthroughs in the search for new antibiotics have been observed. It is important to understand that in this war, bacteria have a monstrous head start: they are incredibly older organisms and they have had a monstrously long time to develop sophisticated mechanisms for influencing other living beings.

Don't antibiotics, like any "chemistry", kill the body?

News for those who like to apply plantain, drip tea into the eye and treat hemorrhoids with cucumber: antibiotics have existed for about as long as bacteria and fungi exist. That is a very, very, very long time. The fact is that they were not invented, they were discovered. That is, literally found. In the process of co-evolution, bacteria and fungi developed new types of weapons for effective counteraction. We just accidentally discovered them, figured out what specifically helps, and were able to isolate and purify the right substance.

The Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text, said that it was recommended to apply yeast compresses to festering wounds, and the age of this papyrus is more than three and a half thousand years. In ancient China, healers used fermented soy flour compresses to fight infection. Maya and Inca Indians used moldy mushrooms grown on corn for medicinal purposes. Recommended mold for purulent infection and the famous Arab doctor Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna).

People don't invent antibiotics, scientists don't "seek" them to produce them later. Simply armed with modern methods, we know that it is not the whole piece of moldy bread that helps, but a certain substance secreted by the mold.

How do antibiotics work?

There are two large groups of antibiotics - bactericidal and bacteriostatic. The former kill bacteria, the latter prevent them from multiplying. Bactericidal agents attack the cell walls of bacteria, destroying them entirely.

Bacteriostatic use more subtle approaches. For example, by limiting the nutrition of the cell with certain substances necessary for the production of a second DNA, thereby preventing cells from dividing, or they disrupt the work of RNA, which translate information from the original DNA to the replicated one. Then the information will be transmitted incorrectly and division will not occur either.

If you have often been treated for infections, or at least watched medical TV shows, you know that there are also “broad” and “narrow” antibiotics. From the name it is clear that the former suppress many types of bacteria, while the latter are aimed at combating a specific group.

The problem is that there are so many infectious agents that it can be very difficult to identify a specific type of bacteria. For example, in bacterial acute respiratory infections, the time to determine the exact type of bacteria coincides with the time during which the immune system usually copes with the disease itself.

What are they treating?

As the name suggests, antibiotics fight bacterial infections. Naturally, not all antibiotics help against all diseases, it is often quite difficult to find an adequate solution, but medicine has not stood still throughout the 20th century, today's drugs are much more effective and safer than their predecessors. When it became clear that bacteria could evolve in a matter of years and stop responding to antibiotic treatment, doctors began to study the effects of drugs in more detail, trying to deliver more targeted strikes.

In addition to bacterial infections, there are also viral ones. Here antibiotics, alas, are useless. The fact is that viruses are a completely different kingdom of living beings, acting on fundamentally different mechanisms.

In a simplified form, we can say that viruses invade cells and make them "work for themselves", and then destroy them and look for the next victim. Theoretically, by acting on a cell, it is possible to stop the virus that has infected it. But how to teach a drug to attack only infected cells? The task, to put it mildly, is not an easy one. Antibiotics in this case will do more harm than good.

However, according to some reports, 46% of our compatriots are sure that it is normal and effective to treat viral infections with antibiotics. In general, it is important to understand that the human body is quite able to cope with most bacterial infections. We have a complex and extremely developed system of struggle, part of which is, for example, fever - the temperature of your body is raised not by the disease, but by the immune system itself, it seems to be trying to “smoke out” the enemy.

Should they be taken?

Do not forget that antibiotics have been able to save hundreds of millions of lives in a relatively short period of their use. There are illnesses and cases where antibiotic treatment is the only reasonable way out. But it was the effectiveness of such drugs that played a cruel joke on humanity: they began to be prescribed to everyone. Indeed, if such an effective medicine exists, why not give it to people at the first suspicion of an infection? What if it helps?

The next generation will be more resistant to antibiotics, because they will inherit increased resistance from the "parent".

Now imagine that a person at this time also periodically forgets to take pills. This means that it reduces the concentration of the antibiotic in the body, allowing even more bacteria to survive. Then he completely stops drinking the medicine, because it “didn’t help” or, conversely, “became better.” As a result, we get a person infected with a bacterial infection that can be transmitted by airborne droplets, which also resists antibiotics. And this is just in one patient in a short time!

Doctors call antibiotics "an irreplaceable resource of mankind" because relatively soon they will stop working. The production of penicillin was able to be established by 1943, and in 1947 a strain of Staphylococcus aureus was already discovered that was resistant to penicillin. That is, millennia of medical development allowed us to have a reliable medicine for four years, during which time the bacteria adapted. This is a race ahead of us in which we have no chance. We cannot defeat bacteria, we can only contain them.

Biologist Mikhail Gelfand explains why antibiotics must be drunk to the end.

How to drink antibiotics correctly?

Responsibly. In fact, sad experience shows that doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics where they are not needed at all. Some do it to be on the safe side. Patients often "demand" antibiotics because in some areas the authorities prohibit their sale over the counter - precisely because of the rampant "self-medication". In general, you should not take doctors as enemies, their task is to cure you. Take responsibility for the appointments and clarify why you are shown these particular drugs, and not others.

If antibiotics are prescribed after tests, history taking and clarification of side effects, they must be taken strictly according to the instructions: without violating the dosages and duration of the course. Stopping pills or taking them at the wrong dosage is dangerous because you will either hurt yourself or contribute to bacterial infections that will no longer be treated with antibiotics. Also, while taking a course of antibiotics, it is advised to limit physical training: for any illness, the main medicines are regimen and nutrition, our immunity is tuned to fight diseases, help it, not interfere.

By continuing to train, you are forcing your body to spend energy on repairing muscle tissue, which will eventually slow down the healing process.

By the way, about nutrition: some antibiotics can have a bad effect on the intestinal microflora, so carefully monitor how they should be taken - before meals or after. Also check the compatibility of drugs. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking or have recently taken.

For example, the action of many antibiotics reduces the effect of birth control, which can lead to unwanted pregnancy even during illness, which you do not want at all. And finally, you should not drink alcohol and forget about individual intolerance and allergies!

Who Shouldn't Take Antibiotics?

First of all, those to whom the doctor did not prescribe them. I often hear from friends that they buy antibiotics at the pharmacy and take them without a specialist prescription, because with similar symptoms last time this remedy helped them. Do not do it this way!

Secondly, pregnant, lactating and children should be careful with antibiotics. In fact, there is nothing surprising in this list: children and pregnant women need to be careful about everything. The reason is banal. The concentration of the same drug after taking a pill in an adult weighing 80 kg and in a baby weighing 8 kg will differ by 10 times. Children are more susceptible than adults to all substances. Therefore, self-treatment with a child is strictly contraindicated.

So, are antibiotics good or bad?

Despite the irresponsible attitude of people towards the use of antibiotics, pharmacologists still manage to find and create drugs that effectively fight bacterial infections. Antibiotics are a serious weapon against bacteria and must be used wisely, carefully following the instructions and in consultation with a qualified doctor.

As in many other areas, extremes are harmful - taking antibiotics for any reason and the complete refusal and denial of such drugs. In general, think with your head and be healthy!

The invention of antibiotics has helped people cope with many previously incurable diseases and their consequences. But taking medications without the supervision of a doctor can adversely affect the body and harm it, so you need to be aware of the consequences of improperly selected treatment.

What are the dangers of antibiotics for the body - the effect on organs and systems

It is worth taking antibacterial drugs only if the benefit outweighs the possibility of complications from taking them. They not only stop the reproduction of microbes, but also cause some disruptions in the human body.

First of all, antibiotics affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but often harm other systems as well. Therefore, despite the successful treatment of the underlying disease, the patient may feel unwell and unpleasant symptoms.

Liver and kidneys

The liver is the main "filter" that protects the body from poisons and toxins. Antibiotics are dangerous for her because they can cause the destruction of her cells and disrupt the production of bile, glucose, vitamins and other vital substances and enzymes produced by her. Prolonged use of drugs can cause inflammation of the organ, and destroyed cells are restored with great difficulty.

The kidneys also perform a cleansing function. Antibacterial drugs have a detrimental effect on their inner epithelium, causing the death of the cells lining it. This disrupts the normal functioning of the kidneys, and they need some time to recover. If their work is disturbed, swelling of the extremities occurs, urination is disturbed.

Stomach and pancreas

After taking the tablets, stomach pain and nausea are sometimes felt, which are caused by damage to the gastric mucosa. Its long-term damage and irritation can lead to the formation of erosion (ulcers) on it. It is possible that when unpleasant symptoms appear, you will have to choose another medicine or inject the drug intravenously so that it immediately enters the bloodstream.

It is not recommended to take antibiotics on an empty stomach, as this contributes to even more irritation of its walls. During therapy, it is better to refrain from salty, sour, fried and other irritating foods. In addition, when exposed to the pancreas, acute pancreatitis may develop.

Intestinal microflora

The gut contains many bacteria that aid digestion. When taking antibacterial drugs, all microorganisms, both harmful and beneficial, die.

If the normal balance of microflora is not restored after medication, a person may suffer from dysbacteriosis, irregular stools, diarrhea or constipation. Immunity is reduced - it has been proven that it is 70% dependent on the state of the microflora and the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Cardiovascular and nervous systems

The effect of antibiotics on the heart and nervous system is not as pronounced as on the gastrointestinal tract. But, according to recent research scientists, a long course of treatment slows down the formation of new brain cells and provokes memory problems. This is due to metabolic disorders, including as a result of the destruction of intestinal microflora.

Macrolides (clarithromycin, roxithromycin) are a group of drugs that have long been considered fairly harmless, but it turned out that they can be harmful to the heart. They increase its electrical activity and cause arrhythmia, which can lead to its sudden stop.

Ears

A certain group (aminoglycosides) can cause damage to the inner ear. Substances penetrate there with the blood stream, contributing to hearing impairment or loss, tinnitus, headaches. Similar symptoms are observed with otitis media.

Teeth

Tetracyclines are known to have negative effects on teeth. They form compounds with calcium, as a result of which the enamel becomes thinner and darker, and tooth hypersensitivity occurs.

A particularly strong negative effect is manifested in children (for this reason, it is now forbidden for younger patients to prescribe tetracycline drugs), however, drugs in this group, with prolonged use, can also harm an adult.

genitourinary system

In men, antibiotics can negatively affect potency and sperm quality by disrupting sperm production and thereby reducing the chances of conception. Therefore, after the end of therapy, it is desirable to make a spermogram to make sure that normal spermatogenesis is restored.

Planning a pregnancy is also undesirable when treating a woman with antibiotics. They do not affect the menstrual cycle, but they disrupt the natural process of egg formation and can cause miscarriage or pathology in the fetus. It is better to wait with conception until the end of the course of treatment and a few more weeks after it.

Harm during pregnancy

It is known that antibacterial drugs are prescribed for pregnant women only in exceptional cases, since there is always a risk of a negative impact on the fetus and problems in its development. The harm of antibiotics for a child is explained by the fact that they disrupt normal cell division.

Many medicines are also prohibited for women during breastfeeding, as they can be toxic to the fragile body of the baby.

Effects on joints in children and adolescents

The negative impact on the joints in children leads to the development of arthritis, a disease that usually affects older people. Therefore, drugs in childhood are prescribed with extreme caution and, if possible, no more than once a year.

Possible consequences of taking antibiotics

Therapy with antibacterial drugs, especially long-term, may lead to the occurrence of some undesirable consequences, including:

• Chair disorder. Diarrhea is caused by irritation of the intestinal wall. Dysbacteriosis can also occur, the symptoms of which include both diarrhea and constipation.
• Nausea and vomiting. They signal irritation of the gastric mucosa, which may be accompanied by bloating and abdominal pain. In addition, they, along with the appearance of edema and impaired urination, can be signs of kidney damage.
• fungal infection. Due to an imbalance in the microflora in the body, fungi can begin to multiply, the activity of which is normally suppressed by beneficial bacteria. The infection most often appears on the oral mucosa (stomatitis) or in the vagina in women. Symptoms are burning, itching, white coating in the mouth and tongue, with vaginal candidiasis in women - cheesy white or translucent discharge, while with vaginal dysbacteriosis they are brown.
• Weakening of immunity, which is caused primarily by the death of intestinal microflora. May be accompanied by weakness, drowsiness, increased fatigue and the development of side infections. In addition, antibiotics disrupt the acid-base balance (contribute to acidification of the body), and if the immune system is reduced, the risk of cancer increases.
• Superinfection. This is the reproduction of any microorganisms that are resistant to the antibiotic being taken. Its development is caused by the fact that the growth of harmful bacteria or fungi is no longer restrained by beneficial microflora, and resistance to the drug appears with prolonged use. Infections often develop in the urethra, bladder.
• An allergic reaction to a particular antibiotic or group of antibiotics. It manifests itself in skin rashes, redness of the skin, runny nose. A red tongue is also a symptom. Allergies can lead to more serious consequences, up to anaphylactic shock, if the medication is not stopped in time.
• Dizziness. May be a sign of the effect of the drug on the central nervous system or on the ears (in this case, there are also tinnitus and hearing impairment).
• Decreased effectiveness of contraceptives. To prevent unwanted pregnancy during therapy with certain antibiotics, it is better to use a barrier method of contraception.

How to Minimize Side Effects

The main rule to follow is that it is important to coordinate the intake of antibiotics with your doctor and inform him of all unpleasant symptoms. The duration of the course and dosage are also determined by the specialist. Under no circumstances should you take expired medicines.

The doctor must take into account the compatibility of prescribed antibiotics with other drugs that the patient takes for a long time. There is such a thing as antagonism - some drugs reduce the effect of each other on the body, as a result of which their intake becomes useless and even harmful.

Before, during and after the course of treatment, it is desirable to conduct a blood test for hemoglobin, the number of red blood cells and white blood cells, for ESR, etc., in order to monitor the main blood parameters. This will help to notice deviations in the work of the body in time.

Nutrition during antibiotic therapy should be regular. It is necessary to avoid spicy, too salty, fried foods, eat more fermented milk products and drink water more often. Drugs must be taken after meals, and not on an empty stomach.

Probiotics will help maintain normal microflora in the intestines while taking medications. These include both special products containing beneficial bacteria in large quantities, and fermented milk products. Sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, kombucha have a good effect, as they are rich in enzymes. Yogurt, kefir, cereals with milk, bread, vegetables and fruits (not sour), soups, steamed fish soften the stomach and eliminate unpleasant consequences.

Tips on how to support the body during antibiotic therapy:

1. To restore the liver after treatment, use hepatoprotective agents containing phospholipids. These substances revive the cell membrane and bring liver cells back to normal. In order not to aggravate the harmful effects, alcohol and spicy foods should be completely excluded during and after the course of treatment. Milk thistle seeds and preparations based on them are very useful for the liver.
2. To prevent a decrease in immunity, together with antibiotics, take immunomodulating agents, a complex of vitamins and minerals, prescribed by a specialist.
3. If an allergic reaction occurs, immediately stop taking the drug and consult a doctor who will select another remedy, taking into account the characteristics of the body.
4. If a fungal infection occurs, take antifungal drugs and probiotics to restore normal microflora.
5. To restore the kidneys drink more fluids. You can also use decoctions of medicinal plants - staminate orthosiphon, wild rose. Warming should not be done, as it will only increase the load on the kidneys and can lead to the multiplication of microbes.

During pregnancy, the number of allowed antibiotics is very limited, so when the first signs of a bacterial infection appear, you should use "natural" help: use garlic, onions, ginger, honey, St. John's wort, horseradish, mustard.

Thus, after taking antibiotics, the body needs to be restored. Therefore, you should not take them without a good reason, “to strengthen immunity”, self-medicate. The use must be justified and, if possible, safe for health.

Antibiotic (antibiotic) Translated from Latin "Against Life".

In fact, antibiotics were created to inhibit the reproduction and growth of the simplest microorganisms, which are precisely pathogenic bacteria. A high concentration of substances that affect cells cannot but affect the body, but when it comes to treating a dangerous disease, it is better to soberly assess the risk-benefit ratio of antibiotics.

Strictly observing the rules for taking antibiotics, you can quickly cope with the disease, while the damage to health in general will be minimal. Conversely, uncontrolled use of drugs is dangerous, so it is especially important to have an idea about the benefits and harms of antibacterial substances.

Harm

Antibiotics: harm to the body

Probably, few of us think that a person lives in the world of bacteria. They live both inside and outside of us. Antibiotics really deal a strong blow to pathogenic bacteria, but at the same time they cause irreparable harm to the whole organism.

The first antibiotics were of natural origin, they were obtained from mold fungi - penicillin, biomycin. And they had a narrow spectrum of action, did not affect the beneficial microflora. They did not cause damage to the body, since its microflora is already adapted to the substances they contain - for example, these are moldy foods.

Antibiotics of the new generation are being developed synthetically, they have the widest spectrum of action, but they kill almost all bacteria - there is not selective (selective), but total elimination of almost all bacteria in the body (including beneficial microflora). But at the same time, the pathogenic microflora very quickly adapts to such antibiotics, literally in 2-3 months new strains appear that are resistant to these antibiotics.

The beneficial microflora recovers much more slowly, and it turns out that we only cause damage to our body by killing the intestinal microflora, which is an integral part of our immunity. The macro organism lives in symbiosis with this microflora and practically cannot exist without it.

Thus, taking antibiotics disrupts the natural microflora, resulting in a sharp drop in immunity. And then, there is an easy opportunity for the penetration of many pathogens into the body - this is how a person falls ill with severe diseases. Therefore, after treatment with synthetic antibiotics, the body becomes practically unprotected from various dangerous pathogens.

Side effects from antibiotics

They definitely have side effects, especially if you take artificial drugs for a long time, which leads to complications, and even death.

Antibiotics are designed to aggressively interfere with the vital activity of microorganisms. The aiming accuracy of the effect of drugs on pathogenic bacteria is the goal of numerous research and development, which has not yet been achieved. Therefore, taking antimicrobial agents has a number of side effects and can adversely affect health and well-being. The following consequences are considered especially serious:

• Malformations of the fetus during pregnancy, therefore, taking antibiotics in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy is strictly prohibited and is possible only in extreme cases.
• Weakened immunity and health problems in infants, so antibiotics are not prescribed during breastfeeding.
• Irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach, exacerbation of ulcerative and pre-ulcerative conditions, imbalance of microflora in the intestine.
• Violations in the liver, kidneys and gallbladder with individual intolerance to antibacterial components.
• Severe allergic reactions, accompanied by severe itching, rashes, and in rare cases, swelling.
• Disturbances in the work of the vestibular apparatus, disorders of the nervous system, accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations.

In some cases, there may be individual reactions from the nervous and circulatory systems, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.

Synthetic hormonal preparations are especially dangerous. They destroy the endocrine system so much that after taking them, it will have to be restored for a long time by natural means. They can give complications to the most important organs and systems of the body, causing serious harm to your health.

Under the influence of antibiotics, the body loses its ability to independently resist various infections. And besides, their widespread use has led to the fact that it has become the cause of the emergence of bacterial strains that are resistant to these drugs. After all, now doctors prescribe such drugs at the peak of viral diseases.

Even some diapers are treated with antibiotic drugs.

Benefit

The benefits of antibiotics

Despite the sharp criticism of antibiotics, they are nevertheless considered one of the most significant discoveries in the history of mankind. If before their invention people died from the common cold, today antibacterial drugs are able to cope with serious diseases that were previously considered incurable.

Pneumonia, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, blood infections, and postoperative complications - properly and timely prescribed antimicrobials will help to cope with serious conditions, minimizing the risk of complications as much as possible.

In addition, modern antibiotics belonging to the synthetic group are based on the latest developments: their administration is relatively safe, and the concentration of active antibacterial components in a single dose of the drug is calculated with the greatest possible accuracy. In the treatment of some antimicrobials, even the use of alcohol is allowed, but the risk is still not recommended. Otherwise, the benefits of antibiotics can turn into harm.

Indications for the use of antibiotics

Taking antibacterial drugs is advisable for the following diseases:

• Infectious diseases of the nasopharynx: sinusitis, sinusitis, diphtheria, etc.
• Diseases of the skin and mucous membranes: furunculosis, severe acne, folliculitis.
• Respiratory system diseases: pneumonia, bronchotracheitis.
• Sexual infections caused by various pathogens.
• Disease of the kidneys and urinary tract.
• Enteritis and severe poisoning.

Contrary to popular belief, antibiotics are ineffective for influenza and SARS because they fight bacteria, not viruses. They are prescribed to treat a bacterial infection that has joined a viral disease, but only a doctor should do this.

Rules for taking antibiotics

If the attending physician considered the prescription of antibiotics justified and appropriate, the most important thing is to make sure that their use brings maximum benefit and minimum harm. To do this, regardless of the type of antibacterial drugs prescribed, it is advisable to follow the following recommendations:

• The same antibiotic can be produced in low and high doses, so when buying a medicine, you should be careful and purchase the drug in doses strictly prescribed by your doctor.
• Before use, be sure to read the instructions: in the presence of diseases indicated in the list of contraindications, you should consult a doctor for advice.
• Do not take the product on an empty stomach, so as not to increase irritation of the mucous membrane.
• Be sure to drink antibiotics with water.
• Eliminate the use of alcohol, taking absorbent and blood-thinning drugs.
• Even if the condition improved immediately, it is necessary to complete the course of treatment: bacteria that are not completely suppressed form resistance to the antibiotic, and further treatment will be ineffective.
• To maintain normal intestinal microflora, it is recommended to use probiotics, preparations with lactobacilli, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes.

With proper administration and adherence to all prescriptions, antibiotic treatment is likely to be effective. In no case should you prescribe antibacterial drugs for yourself, so as not to harm yourself even more.

Fake antibiotics

Today, the business of counterfeit medicines, especially expensive and widely advertised drugs, is very common. Therefore, carefully check the availability of proper certificates, so as not to buy a fake and not cause serious harm to your health.

What causes uncontrolled use of antibiotics

Many experts in medicine are increasingly talking about the dangers of mass use of antibiotics. Since, due to the rapid pace of development of viruses, there is a threat of the emergence of resistant flora that cannot be resisted by new antibiotic agents.

Most often, antibiotics are prescribed by doctors unreasonably. Antibiotics must be used strictly for their intended purpose and only for such diseases where they are really necessary.

Antibiotics in food

Synthetic antibiotics have become very difficult to avoid, and even if you do not use them during outbreaks of viral diseases, you are unlikely to be able to do this in gastronomy. At present, they are used for heat treatment, sterilization, filtration in many food products. This - and milk and meat, eggs, chicken, cheese, shrimp, and even honey.

In the meat industry, antibiotics are also widely used today - to keep animals from getting sick. The so-called "growth hormones" - to increase the rate of raising livestock or poultry. Therefore, it will also not be superfluous to be interested in what kind of meat products you consume. It is advisable to purchase meat from farms that do not use synthetic hormonal drugs when raising animals.

ADDITIONALLY

Types of antibiotics

Today, doctors distinguish the following groups of antibacterial drugs:

• Penicillins.

The material for the production of preparations are mold colonies with the same name. Able to destroy the cell walls of bacteria and suppress their vital activity. Antibiotics of this group penetrate deep into the cells of the body and can effectively attack hidden pathogens. Significant disadvantages of the drug are the rapid excretion from the body and the ability of microbes to form resistance to penicillins.

• Cephalosporins.

Broad-spectrum drugs, structurally similar to penicillins. There are three generations of cephalosporins: 1st generation is used to treat diseases of the genitourinary system and upper respiratory tract; 2nd generation - to suppress gastrointestinal infections; 3rd generation - to suppress especially severe infections. The disadvantages of the drug include the ability to cause a strong allergic reaction.

• Macrolides.

They have a complex cyclic structure. They are able to destroy the structures of bacteria responsible for the synthesis of proteins, as a result of which the development and reproduction of microorganisms ceases. Relatively safe and acceptable for long-term treatment, although over time, microbes can develop resistance (resistance) to the antibiotic.

• Tetracyclines.

In their action, they are similar to macrolides, but due to their low selectivity, they can negatively affect the cells of the human body. Effective in the treatment of a number of severe infections, but have many side effects, so they are most often used externally in the form of creams and ointments.

• Aminoglycosides.

They have a wide spectrum of action, but are most often used to suppress serious infectious processes associated with blood poisoning, infection of wounds and burns. Today they are used less and less due to high toxicity.

• Antifungal antibiotics.

They differ in their active effect on fungi, destroying the cell membrane and leading to their death. Quickly cause the resistance of microorganisms, so they are gradually being replaced by highly effective synthetic drugs.

The same antibiotic can be sold under different commercial names, so before buying all the drugs prescribed by the doctor, you should find out exactly whether they need to be taken as part of the same course or are given as replacement options.

natural antibiotics

There are natural, natural antibiotics in nature. There are many plants that contain antibiotic substances:

Widespread aspirin, which has a diluting effect, in addition to positive properties, causes many side effects, causes a number of complications, as well as hidden bleeding. It can be replaced with lemon juice and other natural remedies.