Happy Sunday, science lovers, and Happy New Year!
It's my first time writing here this year, and I'm happy to make this post. Without further ado, let's learn something new today.
The discovery of antibiotics remains one of the greatest milestones in scientific research and medical discoveries. Antibiotics are effectively used in treating bacterial infections, however, just like everything in this world, requires moderation and diligence.
Its misuse and overuse is what has contributed to antibiotics abuse worldwide often worsening health and leading to antibiotic resistance.
What is Antibiotic Abuse?
This is the inappropriate use of antibiotics either by:
Not finishing a complete course treatment
Using them when not necessary for example viral infections,
Using them without prescription.
Antibiotics abuse stems generally from self-medication. It is a common thing for people to casually visit the pharmacy and make purchases of antibiotics since in many countries, they are over the counter drugs.
Examples of these antibiotics includes: azithromycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and others.
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Repeatedly doing this act causes a lot of damage to us and makes us suffer financially when the actual need for those antibiotics come knocking on our door.
Just few days ago, a patient came to our clinic with discharge. Specimen was collected, microscopy, culture and sensitivity test was done and could you believe that this guy was resistant to the whole common antibiotics available because he has been abusing them at will forcing us to go for the costlier ones.
Let's get into details what happens when you abuse antibiotics:
- Antibiotics Resistance:
This is one of the most feared consequences of antibiotics abuse. When you keep taking antibiotics as in the criteria I said it becomes an abuse, you keep exposing these bacteria organisms to these antibiotics in a way that they get adapted to it making the antibiotics ineffective.
Explaining this further, just imagine when you repeatedly flog a child, even when the child didn't do what demands flogging. Over time, the child soon gets adapted to the flogging as a normal thing and when he does something wrong that should warrant flogging, he won't be seeing it as a punishment but as a routine thereby defeating the intended effect which was punishment and correction to deter him from doing it again.
Similarly, when bacteria organisms are exposed to antibiotics unnecessarily, they adapt, rendering the antibiotics ineffective.
For instance, you are suffering from urinary tract infections that ideally shouldn't be a challenge but because you've been abusing antibiotics, it becomes harder to treat leading to prolonged hospital stay and higher cost.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance could cost the global economy trillions of dollars annually by 2050 if not addressed.
- Disruption Of Body's Immune System:
Naturally, there is what is called beneficial micro organisms or normal flora in different systems of the body especially in the gut or digestive tract. These mircoorganisms helps in various functions where they are, including digestion of foods.
When you keep abusing antibiotics, you wipe out a big portion of these microorganisms and sometimes leads to severe diarrhoea and bloating.
- Impact On Liver:
The liver is the metabolic organ of the body which also helps in detoxifying the body. Excessive use of antibiotics puts a strain on the liver and could lead to Injury and various forms of liver damage
Why Then Do People Still Abuse Antibiotics?
- Lack of Awareness:
Many persons use antibiotics without knowledge of antibiotics misuse and it's long-term consequences.
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- Self-Medication:
Just like I said in the beginning, a lot of persons use antibiotics without prescription. They see it as the first line medication for any illness even without knowledge of exactly what's wrong with them.
- Easy Access:
For a country like Nigeria where antibiotics could be gotten very easily via over the counter, antibiotics misuse is rampant.
Fighting Against Antibiotic Abuse
- Public Awareness:
Knowledge is power they say, hence, diligent use of our communication channels ranging from radio stations, television stations down to street awareness campaigns will help educate the masses of the dangers of antibiotic abuse.
- Strict Regulations:
The government should step in here and ensure strict policy in the sales and distribution of antibiotics. With every pharmacy and chemist shops requiring a valid prescription sheet before the sale of antibiotics to consumers, it'll help curb the abuse on antibiotics.
- Personal Effort:
Individuals should also endeavour to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed by the physician. Avoid self-medication and also ensuring they resort to antibiotics after due laboratory investigation to avoid unnecessary intake of drugs.
In summary, antibiotics abuse is gradually gaining interest in the health sector because of the increasing number of cases and the only way to curb it is through collective effort by any means possible be it education, regulations or even innovations to be a replacement to treating bacterial infections.
To read more...
Thanks for reading and have a nice day ahead 👍