What are the side-effects of antibiotics?
Below is a list of the most common side-effects of antibiotics:
• Diarrhea - researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine found that a rise in sugars in the gut following antibiotic treatment allows harmful bacteria to get a foothold and cause infection. Harmful bacteria thrive on sugar.
• Feeling and being sick.
• Fungal infections of the mouth, digestive tract and vagina.
Below is a list of rare side-effects of antibiotics:
• Formation of kidney stones (when taking sulphonamides).
• Abnormal blood clotting (when taking some cephalosporins).
• Sensitivity to sun (when taking tetracyclines).
• Blood disorders (when taking trimethoprim).
• Deafness (when taking erythromycin and the aminoglycosides).
Some patients, especially elderly ones, may experience inflamed bowels (a type of colitis) which can lead to severe diarrhea. Clindamycin, an antibiotic used for the most serious infections, commonly has this side effect. However, although much less common, penicillins, cephalosporins and erythromycin might do too.
In August 2012, Scientists from the NY School of Medicine found that babies who are exposed to antibiotics have a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese children. Their study was published in the International Journal of Obesity.