What are potential side effects of overuse of antibiotics?

 

What are  potential side effects of overuse of antibiotics?

Antibiotic resistance: One of the most serious side effects of overuse of antibiotics is the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When bacteria are exposed to low levels of antibiotics over a long period of time, they can become resistant to the drugs, making it more difficult to treat infections.

Allergic reactions: Some people may have an allergic reaction to certain antibiotics, which can cause symptoms such as rash, hives, and difficulty breathing.

Digestive problems: Antibiotics can also disrupt the balance of good bacteria in the gut, leading to digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

Yeast infections: Antibiotics can also kill beneficial bacteria that help to prevent the growth of yeast. This can lead to the development of yeast infections, particularly in women.

Kidney damage: In rare cases, long-term use of certain antibiotics can cause kidney damage.

Weakened immune system:These side effects can be particularly dangerous for people who are already sick or have weakened immune system .Because of decrease immunity people are more prone to infections.

It's important to use antibiotics only when they are needed and to follow the prescribed dosage and duration of treatment to minimise the risk of these side effects.

Negative impacts on the treatment of various diseases. Here are a few examples:

Antibiotic resistance: When antibiotics are misused or overused, the bacteria they are intended to kill can develop resistance to them. This means that the antibiotics become less effective at treating infections caused by those bacteria, which can make it more difficult to treat diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and gonorrhea.

Decreased effectiveness of other treatments: Antibiotics can interfere with the effectiveness of other treatments, such as cancer chemotherapy and HIV medications. This can make it more difficult to treat diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Increased healthcare costs: The misuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant infections, which can be more difficult and expensive to treat. This can lead to increased healthcare costs for individuals and society as a whole.