Why are antibiotics harmful to children? Remember that medications are only useful if

Antibiotic (antibiotic) Translated from Latin “Against life”.

In fact, antibiotics were created to suppress the reproduction and growth of protozoan microorganisms, which are precisely pathogenic bacteria. A high concentration of substances affecting cells cannot but affect the body, but when we're talking about about the treatment of a dangerous disease, it is better to soberly assess the risk-benefit ratio of antibiotics.

By strictly following the rules for taking antibiotics, you can short terms cope with the disease, while the damage to health as a whole will be minimal. On the contrary, uncontrolled use of drugs is dangerous, so having an idea of the benefits and harms of antibacterial substances is especially important.

Harm

Antibiotics: harm to the body

Probably, few of us think that humans live in a world of bacteria. They live both outside and inside us. Antibiotics really do hurt swipe against pathogenic bacteria, but at the same time they cause irreparable harm to the entire body.

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

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

The beneficial microflora is restored much more slowly, and it turns out that we only cause damage to our body by killing the intestinal microflora, which is integral part 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 decline in immunity. And then, there is an easy opportunity for many pathogens to penetrate the body - this is how a person becomes 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 life of microorganisms. Targeted precision of the effects of drugs on pathogenic bacteria is the goal of numerous research and developments, which has not yet been achieved. Therefore, taking antimicrobial agents has a number of side effects and may have a negative impact on 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, therefore 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.
Disturbances in the functioning of the liver, kidneys and gall bladder with individual intolerance antibacterial components.
Strong allergic reactions, accompanied severe itching, rashes, in in rare cases- swelling.
Disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, disorders nervous system accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations.

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

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

Under the influence of antibiotics, the body loses its ability to resist on its own. various infections. And besides them wide application led to the emergence of strains of bacteria resistant to these drugs. After all, doctors now prescribe such drugs during the peak of viral diseases.

Even some diapers are treated with antibiotic drugs.

Benefit

The benefits of antibiotics

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

Pneumonia, tuberculosis, gastrointestinal infections, venereal diseases, blood poisoning and postoperative complications - correctly and timely prescribed antimicrobial agents will help cope with serious conditions, minimizing the risk of complications if possible.

Besides, modern antibiotics belonging to the group of synthetic ones, are created on the basis the latest developments: their use is relatively safe, and the concentration of active antibacterial components in one dose of the drug is calculated with the highest possible accuracy. When treated with some antimicrobials Even drinking alcohol is allowed, but it is still not recommended to take risks. 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 skin and mucous membranes: furunculosis, severe types of acne, folliculitis.
Diseases respiratory system: pneumonia, bronchotracheitis.
Sexual infections caused by various pathogens.
Kidney disease and urinary tract.
Enteritis and severe poisoning.

Contrary to popular belief, antibiotics are ineffective against influenza and acute respiratory viral infections because they fight bacteria, not viruses. They are prescribed for the treatment of those who have joined viral disease bacterial infection, but only a doctor should do this.

Rules for taking antibiotics

If the attending physician considers the prescription of antibiotics justified and appropriate, the most important thing is to ensure 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 purchasing 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: if you have diseases listed 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 take antibiotics with water.
Avoid drinking alcohol and taking absorbent and blood thinning medications.
Even if the condition improves immediately, it is necessary to complete the course of treatment: bacteria that are not completely suppressed form resistance to the antibiotic, and in further treatment will turn out to be ineffective.
To maintain normal intestinal microflora, it is recommended to use probiotics, preparations with lactobacilli, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes.

Under conditions correct intake and compliance with all prescriptions, antibiotic treatment is most likely to be effective. Under no circumstances should you prescribe antibacterial drugs yourself, so as not to harm yourself even more.

Fake antibiotics

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

What does uncontrolled use of antibiotics lead to?

Many medical experts 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 without justification. Antibiotics must be used strictly as directed and only for diseases where they are truly 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 so in gastronomy. IN current time They are used for heat treatment, sterilization, and filtration in many food products. This includes milk and meat, eggs, chicken, cheese, shrimp, and even honey.

IN meat industry Antibiotics are also widely used today to prevent animals from getting sick. So-called “growth hormones” - to increase the speed of growing livestock or poultry. Therefore, it would also be a good idea 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.

Colonies of mold fungi with the same name serve as the material for the production of drugs. Capable of destroying the cell walls of bacteria and suppressing their vital activity. Antibiotics of this group penetrate deep into the body's cells and can effectively attack hidden pathogens. Significant disadvantages of the drug are rapid elimination from the body and the ability of microbes to develop resistance to penicillins.

Cephalosporins.

Drugs wide range actions are similar in structure to penicillins. There are three generations of cephalosporins: 1st generation is used to treat diseases genitourinary system and upper respiratory tract; 2nd generation – for suppression gastrointestinal infections; 3rd generation – to suppress particularly severe infections. The disadvantages of the drug include the ability to cause a severe allergic reaction.

Macrolides.

They are distinguished by a complex cyclic structure. Capable of destroying bacterial structures responsible for protein synthesis, as a result of which the development and reproduction of microorganisms stops. Relatively safe and acceptable for long-term treatment, although over time microbes can develop resistance (resistance) to the antibiotic.

Tetracyclines.

Their action is similar to macrolides, but due to low selectivity they can have a negative effect on cells human body. They are effective in treating 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.

Are different active influence on fungi, destroying cell membrane and leading to their death. They quickly cause resistance in microorganisms, so they are gradually being replaced by highly effective synthetic drugs.

The same antibiotic may be sold under different commercial names, so before you buy all the drugs prescribed by your 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:

A widely used aspirin that has a thinning effect, in addition to positive properties, causes many side effects, causes a number of complications, as well as hidden bleeding. It can be replaced lemon juice and other natural remedies.

Most people take antibiotics lightly, simply as a pill that easily cures a cold.

In fact, this is serious medicinal product. And the harm that antibiotics cause to the body is often not justified.

As is known, the first antibiotic was isolated from mold fungi and was a toxin that destroys microbial cells. The first antibiotics were quite weak and “worked” for a very short period of time.

Modern pharmacology has stepped far forward. Modern antibiotics are capable of killing most known microorganisms and have for a long time actions. In medical parlance, they are called “long-acting broad-spectrum antibiotics.”

And it’s great that there are such powerful and easy-to-use drugs. It would seem that thanks to such drugs, any infectious disease– no problem. However, we are increasingly faced with the fact that even the most expensive and strong drugs powerless in the fight against the disease.

Why are antibiotics harmful? How to minimize harm

Unfortunately, this is not the fault of charlatan pharmacists or super-strong pathogenic microbes. We ourselves are to blame for this. Ask yourself, how often have you lowered your temperature by taking an antibiotic? Have you gotten rid of abdominal pain and nausea with the help of Sulgin or Levomecithin tablets? Not once or twice, unfortunately.

The course of antibiotics must be complete and continuous. Otherwise, we greatly help the bacteria that terrorize our body. Single dose or an incomplete course of treatment with these drugs “hardens” the bacteria, making them stronger and more resistant.

How we “accustom” the body to antibacterial drugs

The thing is that bacteria in the body do not live one or two at a time, but in colonies of thousands and millions of cells. They constantly divide, giving life to new microbes. This means that they are constantly released outside, i.e. into our body, the products of our vital activity are toxins.

The body turns on a protective reaction - it increases the temperature, because... bacteria and viruses die at temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius. And then we take the medicine. The antibiotic is quickly absorbed into the blood, distributed throughout the body and begins to work.

Bacteria die, less and less toxins are released, the temperature drops and we calm down. We think that everything is behind us and interrupt the course of treatment. And at this time, pathogenic microorganisms are still present in the body. They are weakened, there are few of them, but they exist. And as soon as the effect of the antibiotic stops, the bacteria begin to multiply again.

But that's not the worst thing. The scary thing is that the bacterial cell is constantly changing under the influence of the environment, adapting to changing conditions. It also adapts to antibiotics.

She can begin to produce special enzymes that bind this antibiotic, turning it into a substance that is safe for itself. She can grow an additional layer of membrane that will protect her from the effects of the drug. Or maybe even incorporate the antibiotic protein chain into your genome or learn to feed on it.

Simply put, the bacteria “gets used” to the antibiotic and is no longer afraid of it. Those. next time this drug simply won’t work. It won't cure.

Avoid these dire consequences not so difficult. You just need to complete the course of antibiotic treatment.

The fact is that a bacterial cell also has its own life expectancy. If division does not occur, it dies. The duration of this life is 7-10 days. That is why the course of antibiotics lasts on average a week. During this time, the body is completely cleared of infection. A bacterium that has managed to “get used” to a new antibiotic does not go into environment. Which means he can’t find himself new victim and does not begin a repeated cycle of development and reproduction.

Dysbacteriosis from taking antibiotics

Another unpleasant side effect of taking oral antibiotics is dysbiosis. Getting into gastrointestinal tract, the antibiotic is partially absorbed into the blood and partially destroyed in the stomach. And partially falls into the thin one, and then into large intestine, in which microorganisms that are friendly to us live.

Modern antibiotics have a very wide spectrum of action. AND normal microflora The intestines also fall under this “spectrum”. They kill her too. But, as they say, a holy place is never empty. Others come to take the place freed from friendly microbes. The balance of microorganisms is disrupted and develops. And it, in turn, threatens us with decreased immunity, indigestion, constipation, problems with skin and nails.

How to take antibiotics without harm to health or at least minimize it

In connection with all of the above, I would like to provide some tips on the use of antibiotics:

1. If you have a cold, don’t rush to buy antibiotics. Firstly, colds are often viral in nature, and antibiotics are powerless against a virus. Secondly, a fever of no higher than 38 degrees helps the body cope with the disease on its own.

2. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, it needs to be brought down. But this must be done with the help of antipyretics, such as paracetamol. The indication for taking an antibiotic is persistent fever for 4-5 days. And ONLY a doctor prescribes them.

3. If the doctor has prescribed a course of antibiotics, you must complete it. Even if on the second day of taking the drug you feel better, and on the third you feel completely healthy.

4. When taking a course of antibiotics, combine it with taking drugs against dysbacteriosis. The doctor will prescribe what to take after antibiotics to restore the microflora. Typically these are drugs containing beneficial bacteria. For example, antibiotic therapy is, etc.

Do not self-medicate, antibiotic - serious drug and its illiterate use can, on the contrary, aggravate the situation and only harm the body.

Despite their relatively recent appearance, antibiotics quickly gained popularity and became among the people practically a “cure for everything.” This is due to the fact that the discovery of antibiotics became 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 happened before antibiotics?

We must understand that before the discovery of antibiotics everything was bad. Even very much so. Ideas that every three-year-old child knows today thanks to advertising antibacterial soap, were not common at all 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 this, prove that they are the causative agents of diseases for a long time no one could before 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 extend the shelf life of foods.

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

It is interesting that before work on the description antibacterial properties 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 the use of 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 bacteria have a monstrous head start in this war: they are incredibly more ancient organisms and they have had a monstrously long time to develop sophisticated mechanisms of influence on other living beings.

Don’t antibiotics, like any “chemicals”, kill the body?

News for those who like to apply plantain, drop tea in the eye and treat hemorrhoids with cucumber: antibiotics have existed for about as long as bacteria and fungi have existed. That is, a very, very, very long time. The fact is that they were not invented, they were discovered. That is, they literally found it. In the process of coevolution, bacteria and fungi developed new types of weapons to effectively counteract. We just discovered them by chance, figured out what exactly helps, and were able to isolate and purify the desired substance.

The Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical work, said that it is 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 compresses made from fermented soy flour to fight infection. The Mayan and Incas used it in medicinal purposes moldy mushrooms grown on corn. Recommended mold for purulent infection and the famous Arab aesculapian Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna).

People do not invent antibiotics, scientists do not “search” for them and then produce them. Simply armed modern methods, we know that it is not the whole piece of moldy bread that helps, but a certain substance released by the mold.

How do antibiotics work?

There are two large groups 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 ones use more subtle approaches. For example, limiting the cell's nutrition with certain substances necessary for the production of second DNA, thereby preventing cells from dividing, or disrupting the work of RNA, which translates information from the original DNA to the replicated one. Then the information will be transmitted incorrectly and division will not occur.

If you have had to undergo frequent treatment for infections or, at least, watch medical TV series, you know that there are also “broad” and “narrow” spectrum 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 determine the specific type of bacteria. Let's say, when bacterial acute respiratory infection 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 do they treat?

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 twentieth 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 attacks.

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 according to fundamentally different mechanisms.

IN simplified form we can say that viruses invade cells and force them to “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 can you 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 data, 46% of our compatriots are confident that treating viral infections antibiotics are normal and effective. In general, it is important to understand that the human body is quite capable of coping with most bacterial infections. We have a complex and extremely developed system of struggle, part of which is, for example, fever - it is not the disease that raises your body temperature, but the immunity itself, as if it is trying to “smoke out” the enemy.

Is it worth taking them?

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

The next generation will be more effective at resisting antibiotics because they will inherit increased resistance from "parent".

Now imagine that at this time a person also periodically forgets to take pills. This means it reduces the concentration of the antibiotic in the body, allowing even more bacteria to survive. Then he stops taking the medicine altogether because it “didn’t help” or, conversely, “it got 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 in just one patient in a short time!

Doctors call antibiotics “humanity’s irreplaceable resource” because they will stop working relatively soon. The production of penicillin was established by 1943, and in 1947 the strain was already discovered Staphylococcus aureus, immune to penicillin. That is, millennia of medical development allowed us to have a reliable medicine within four years, during which time the bacteria adapted. This is a race to get ahead in which we have no chance. We cannot defeat bacteria, we can only contain them.

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

How to take antibiotics correctly?

Responsibly. In fact, sad experience shows that doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics where they are not needed at all. Some people do this to be on the safe side. Patients often “demand” the prescription of antibiotics, because in a number of areas the authorities prohibit their over-the-counter sale - precisely because of the widespread “self-medication”. In general, you should not perceive doctors as enemies, their task is to cure you. Take your prescriptions responsibly and clarify why these medications are indicated for you and not others.

If antibiotics are prescribed after tests, medical history and clarification of side effects, they must be taken strictly according to the instructions: without violating the dosage and duration of the course. Stopping your pills or taking them at the wrong dosage is dangerous because you will either harm yourself or contribute to bacterial infections that cannot be treated with antibiotics. Also, while taking a course of antibiotics, it is recommended to limit physical training: for any disease, the main medicines are diet and diet, our immunity is tuned to fight diseases, help it, not interfere.

By continuing to exercise, you force your body to spend energy on repairing muscle tissue, which will ultimately slow down the healing process.

By the way, about nutrition: some antibiotics can have a bad effect on the intestinal microflora, so pay close attention to how they should be taken - before or after meals. Also check the compatibility of the drugs. You must tell your doctor what medications you are taking or have recently taken.

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

Who shouldn't take antibiotics?

First of all, for 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 prescription from a specialist, because the medicine helped them with similar symptoms last time. Don't do that!

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

So, are antibiotics good or bad?

Despite people's irresponsible attitude towards the use of antibiotics, pharmacologists have so far managed to find and create drugs that effectively fight bacterial infections. Antibiotics are a serious weapon against bacteria and should be used wisely, carefully following the instructions and consulting with a qualified doctor.

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

Today it is impossible to imagine medicine without antibiotics, because they save humanity from many bacterial diseases. But what harm these saviors cause to the body and how to reduce it, the article will tell you.

Antibiotics, of which Fleming is the father, have been used for more than 100 years. They have saved hundreds of thousands of people throughout history, especially during wars. Previously, there was only one known drug in this category - penicillin, but today biochemists have developed hundreds of different antibiotics, differing in their spectrum of action, specialization for certain microbes, and also for different ages. These drugs are actively used today, so the question remains open about the harm they create on the human body.

Are antibiotics harmful?

Antibiotics are organic or synthetic substances that can kill, disrupt the structure, and destroy the protein synthesis apparatus of bacteria. Today, these drugs treat pneumonia, colds, tetanus, diphtheria and many others. bacterial infections. What is the harm of antibiotics to the human body?

It is due to the fact that these substances have a suppressive effect on microbes. Antibiotics come in two varieties: broad and narrow spectrum. The former inhibit all microbes in the body, but a person also has beneficial microflora in his body, which regulates many processes and acts as a barrier to “bad” bacteria.

Due to the wide spectrum of action of the drugs, after a course of treatment the balance of microbes in the body is disrupted, the immune system is weakened and dysbiosis develops.

The second group of drugs works only with a narrow range of microorganisms or even one, without harming the human microflora.

“Why not use only narrow-spectrum antibiotics?” is a question that will come to mind for many readers. The fact is that it is extremely difficult to obtain such drugs, because to do this you need to find in a certain bacterium some factors that are characteristic only of it and are absent in others. If such features are found, then it is necessary to develop a way to influence them. Because of this, there are very few such drugs and they are more expensive than their “brothers” of a wide spectrum.

Are antibiotics harmful? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally, because these medicines save lives by fighting the most dangerous bacterial diseases, but with prolonged, irrational or self-treatment they can be harmful to the body, disrupt the balance of microflora, which is difficult to restore.

Harm of antibiotics to the body

Antibiotics negatively affect many vital systems of the body, but they are especially harmful for:

liver;
kidney;
stomach;
intestinal microflora;
cardiovascular system;
nervous system.

All areas of impact are discussed in detail below.

Harm to the liver

The first thing antibiotics hit is the liver cells. This universal filter of the body allows blood and everything it contains to pass through it. Any drugs, after ingestion, destroy liver cells, which are very difficult to restore. She's trying to get out harmful substances from the body, neutralizes it, but itself receives the main blow:

may arise inflammatory processes in the liver;
gallbladder;
enzymatic function is weakened;
pain occurs (especially after prolonged use).

Often doctors, in order to reduce damage to the liver, together with antibacterial drugs Prescribe special medications that can strengthen the liver. These can be not only tablets, but also teas or decoctions.

Harm to the kidneys

The kidneys are the second to try to cleanse the body of antibiotic breakdown products after taking them. This negatively affects them, because such drugs are aggressive substances, and therefore irritate and destroy the epithelium lining the organs from the inside.

Therefore, after long-term use of antibacterial drugs, cloudy urine, a change in its color or odor, may be observed. Cells are destroyed, and because of this, absorption and excretory function kidney They are no easier to restore than the liver. This process occurs independently, but you can help it drinking plenty of fluids and herbal teas.

Harm to the stomach

Why are antibiotics harmful to the stomach? They increase the acidity inside it, causing increased secretion gastric juice containing strong chloride acid. This phenomenon is especially dangerous if it was taken not after a meal, but on an empty stomach.

Ulcers can form in the walls of the stomach, and gastritis develops. It is almost impossible to cure such consequences, therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to study the features and rules of administration in order to reduce negative impact on the stomach.

Microflora disturbance

Antibiotics have the most serious effect on the intestinal microflora, especially if they are broad-spectrum. The body is freed not only from harmful microorganisms, but also loses its “protective garrison”. Beneficial bacteria living in the human body create a barrier through which harmful microbes cannot break into cells and tissues. Also beneficial organisms They help a person digest and eliminate food and synthesize some necessary substances.

Also, beneficial bacteria protect a person from the penetration of fungal infections that cause fermentation and rotting of food in the gastrointestinal tract, suppressing immune system causing allergic reactions. Harmful fungi include yeast, some types of aspergillus and others.

The harm from imbalance of intestinal microflora can be felt within 2-3 weeks after taking antibiotics.

the functioning of the digestive organs is disrupted;
bloating develops;
processes of fermentation and decay;
allergies or rashes appear;
the stool becomes upset;
Dysbacteriosis begins.

Restoring your “protective garrison” is difficult, but possible. To do this, you need to take a course of prebiotics - drugs containing beneficial bacteria, as well as adjusting your diet.

Harm to the nervous and cardiovascular systems

Some types of antibiotics can depress mental activity and disrupt the functioning of the vestibular apparatus and sensory organs. Streptomycin for long-term treatment causes difficulties in perceiving new information, impairs memory, and prevents concentration.

There are also safe drugs, so you need to talk about the features of the medicine with your doctor. Certain types of antibiotics can cause cardiovascular harm. vascular system, disrupting the functioning of the heart, irritating the walls of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.

How to reduce the harm of antibiotics

In order not to receive after a course of treatment unpleasant consequences, you must first of all follow the advice of your treating specialist.

You should carefully follow the rules of administration, as well as take auxiliary medications prescribed by your doctor.
Remember that it is difficult to cleanse the body of antibiotic residues, but the process can be speeded up. Herbal teas and prebiotics will help with this. To cleanse your body, you can drink chamomile, mint, nettle teas, or purchase special herbal teas for the liver, kidneys, stomach.
There are also prebiotics in every pharmacy. They contain beneficial bacteria, so they will help restore the intestinal microflora and cleanse the organ cells of drug residues.
Do not take prebiotics on your own, because each of the many types contains different microorganisms, so only a doctor can prescribe them.

Antibiotics not only treat, but can also cause harm. Take care of your body, do not take medications on your own and follow all doctor’s recommendations - this is the only way to reduce negative impact antibacterial drugs.

Harm or benefit from antibiotics - on this topic in lately There are a lot of discussions going on. Thanks to A. Flemeng, the substance penicillin, discovered in the 30s through an experiment on bacteria, gave humanity a chance to get rid of many infectious and the most dangerous diseases last century.

Today, the list of antibacterial drugs has expanded significantly. Developed by biochemists medicines, namely antibacterial ones, differing from each other in the spectrum of their effects and created for different age categories, began to be used more actively and even sometimes uncontrollably.

Observed trend towards application antibacterial agents V therapeutic treatment Not so serious diseases and without prescription from doctors are increasingly leading the human body to negative consequences and complications.

Harm from taking antibiotics

People live among bacteria, they are literally surrounded by them, these microorganisms live everywhere - in the outside world, as well as inside the human body. Indeed, on the one hand, antibiotics help a person get rid of pathogenic bacteria, on the other hand, antibacterial drugs can cause harm and a targeted blow to human health, becoming “killer No. 1” for the beneficial microflora of the body.

The first antibiotics of natural etiology, obtained from mold fungi, included penicillin and biomycin. These drugs, previously used without harm to the body, were due to a narrow spectrum of action that did not affect the beneficial microflora of the human stomach and intestines. The reason for their safety was the microflora of the human body that was already adapted to their substances (for example, moldy food products).

The new generation of antibacterial drugs produced are already synthetic agents with a wide spectrum of action aimed at the total destruction of all bacteria, including those beneficial to humans. However, pathogenic microflora quickly adapts to the drugs described, and within just a few months new strains emerge that are more resistant to the antibiotics already used.

It is much more difficult for beneficial microflora to recover, especially after long-term use of the described drugs, so the harm of antibiotics that kill intestinal microflora and immunity is obvious here. Moreover, with a decline in immunity in the majority pathogenic microorganisms there is a much greater chance for them to penetrate the body and generate much more serious illnesses. Therefore after healing process With the use of synthetic antibacterial drugs, the human body is practically unprotected and exposed to various pathogens.

Negative effects on the liver

The first thing antibiotics hit is the liver cells. Being a universal filter for the body, the liver pumps blood through itself with all its contents. Like many other drugs, antibiotics, when they enter the liver, have a destructive effect on the organ and its cells. As a result, while removing harmful substances from the body, the liver itself receives a certain blow in the form of:

Inflammatory processes occurring in the organ itself;
Inflammation of the gallbladder;
Weakening of enzymatic function;
Pain after prolonged use of the described medications.

To reduce the harm of antibiotics, doctors, together with antibacterial drugs, prescribe drugs for the liver with a strengthening effect in the form of tablets, teas or decoctions.

Negative effects on the kidneys

How antibiotics are harmful to the kidneys is due to their breakdown products. After all, the kidneys are also trying to cleanse the body of aggressive substances similar drugs, which destroy the epithelium lining the surface of organs from the inside.

Therefore, people, along with long-term use antibacterial agents, symptoms are observed in the form of cloudy urine, changes in its odor and color. Due to cell destruction, the absorption and urinary functions of this organ are disrupted.

The process of restoring kidney activity is labor-intensive and lengthy. To help your kidneys on your own, drink herbal tea and infusions.

Negative effects on the stomach

Are antibiotics harmful to the stomach? The components that make up antibacterial drugs are bad because they can cause:

Increased acidity and pain;
Excessive secretion of gastric juice;
Formation of ulcers and further development of gastritis.

The above harm and negative consequences after their use they are difficult to treat due to their harmful influence on the human body. Therefore, before starting treatment with such drugs, the patient needs to clarify all the features of the drug and study the rules for their use.

Negative consequences for the nervous and cardiovascular systems

There are antibiotics that have a depressing effect on the mental activity of an adult, vestibular apparatus and on his senses. For example, a drug such as Streptomycin can, when used for a long time, impair memory and prevent the patient from focusing on something when necessary.

Some types of the described drugs can seriously harm a person’s cardiovascular system, disrupt the activity of his heart and, through irritation, vascular walls increase blood pressure.

But there are antibiotics that are not dangerous to the body. Therefore, the benefits and harms of antibiotics are considered individually, exclusively during an appointment with a doctor.

What benefits do antibiotics provide to the body?

From all of the above, it becomes clear why antibacterial drugs are criticized. But, despite this, it is precisely such means that can be considered the most significant discovery of the last century. So why are antibiotics needed?

Why did people die before the invention of antibacterial agents - from the most common colds! New generation drugs can easily cope with serious illnesses, complications and even prevent possible death.

If you take antibiotics correctly and follow the doctor’s instructions, you can get rid of postoperative complications and diseases in the form of:

Pneumonia;
Tuberculosis;
Gastrointestinal infections;
Venereal diseases;
Blood poisoning.

The latest developments of modern synthetic drugs- safe. Since the concentration calculation active ingredients in one dose is absolutely accurate, which reduces the harm of drugs to a minimum. Therefore, during treatment with antibiotics, sometimes it is even allowed to drink alcohol - although it is better not to risk it!

When and how to take antibiotics

Antibacterial agents can be taken in the following cases:

Infectious diseases of the nasopharynx - with sinusitis, sinusitis, diphtheria, etc.;
Diseases of the skin and mucous membranes - with furunculosis, folliculitis;
Respiratory diseases – with pneumonia and bronchotracheitis;
Sexual infections;
Diseases of the kidneys and urinary system;
Development of enteritis and in severe poisoning.

Important! It is necessary to know that it is inappropriate to take the described drugs for diseases such as influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, since the described drugs are effective in the fight against bacteria, not viruses. Antibacterial agents can be prescribed only in cases where an infection of bacterial origin is associated with a viral disease.

When prescribing antibacterial drugs justifiably, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules:

Follow the dosage of the drug based on the instructions for use and doctor’s prescriptions;
Do not drink the product on an empty stomach, as some drugs are prone to irritation of the mucous membrane;
Take antibiotics, and then be sure to drink them with water;
Doctors advise - do not take the described drugs together with alcohol and absorbent drugs;
If the condition improves, the course of treatment with antibacterial drugs must be completed. Since the remaining bacteria may develop some resistance to the drug, and further therapy will be ineffective;
In order not to disturb the intestinal microflora, doctors recommend taking antibacterial agents together with probiotics, immunomodulators and vitamins.

Where antibiotics can be harmful is in complete non-compliance medical recommendations and self-prescription of the described drugs.

What are the dangers of uncontrolled use of antibiotics?

Massive use of antibacterial agents due to rapid development viruses can lead to resistant forms of diseases and subsequently to the inability of new antibiotics to resist pathogenic bacteria.

When asked how often antibiotics can be taken, doctors answer that the drugs described should be used only for their intended purpose and justifiably. If a person takes antibiotics unnecessarily, there is a possibility of developing the so-called addiction to these drugs.

It is necessary to understand that uncontrolled use of antibiotics can lead to complications of the same diseases for which they were purchased.