Antibiotics are the drugs that treat a bacterial infection either by killing the bacteria or preventing its growth. It works on the bacterial infections and sometimes, protozoan infections but lacks efficacy in viral disease. A person can consume it orally or via injection. The revolution of antibiotics in medicines began in the 20th century, the period that witnessed a great decline in the diseases. An antibiotic diminishes the time period of a health issue, benefiting everyone engaging in its production and consumption. Though it eradicated several diseases, the drug’s extensive use and easy access have made microbes and bacteria resistant to it. Also, some recent reports concluded mild to severe effects of antibiotics.
Positive effects of antibiotics
The desired efficacy is the prime reason for an antibiotic’s popularity.
Improve animal health
An animal health is a must for itself and human beings. As humans consume several products produced by animals and cattle including milk and beef, an animal health becomes important. And antibiotics help in maintaining the well-being of animals and prevent them from diseases. In addition, antibiotics ensure health in case of a treatment following distress or suffering.
Human health benefits
Antibiotic owns a significant role in the medical science. Doctors and medical practitioners employ antibiotics to prevent infections, particularly in surgeries. Today, the pharmaceutical market constitute a large variety of antibiotics for different bacterial infections and a person can buy and consume it anywhere anytime. The important sites of applying antibiotics include surgical wounds, ear infection, skin condition, and eye problem.
Cost-effective
Antibiotics are low-cost drugs and easily accessible. They are friends with rich and poor, who can buy it and cure themselves. Owing to the low-cost and affordability, many non-governmental organizations and businesses (as a corporate social responsibility) engage themselves in distributing these antibiotics in far reaches and distant and hilly areas.
Economy booster
Natural components found in abundance, are prime ingredients of antibiotics. This feature relates it to the ancient medicines used thousands of years ago and thus, makes it effective enough. Many locals living in forests and such environment have started small-scale industries to produce antibiotics, making it pure and unadulterated. In this way, antibiotics help in boosting the income of locals and a country.
Negative effects of antibiotics
An antibiotic was a savior a few decades ago but the change in time has reversed its effectiveness and popularity.
Health issues
An antibiotic can give negative results, arising either from the components of an antibiotic or the targeted bacteria. At times, it boosts the infection if an individual is allergic to any component in the antibiotic. A health problem arises if the antibiotic interacts with another drug in a person’s body. If an antibiotic reacts with the alcohol, it may lead to vomiting, nausea, and breathlessness. Some other health issues include diarrhea, tendon damage, and vaginal or intestinal infection.
Obesity
A good health in childhood precious for the growth and development. The antibiotic use at this age can endanger the desired growth. Scientists have found that the exposure of antibiotics in children leads to an increase in body mass and fat. A child or a person face obesity at the small age which can become a cause of many other health conditions and diseases in old days.
Contraceptive pills failure
The antibiotics affect the efficiency of the birth control pills. Though the cases involving a relationship between antibiotics and contraceptive pills are small, their interaction, at times, result in the ineffectiveness of the pill. And a woman might face an uncalled pregnancy, which can affect her mental well-being and physical health.
Drug-resistant bacteria
Where the affordability and accessibility of the antibiotics have decreased the inequality among rich and poor sufferers, the same reasons have increased its unnecessary usage. Physicians all over the world prescribe antibiotics for a mild infection or health issue. Such practices have led to the emergence of microbes resistant to the antibiotics. This problem has increased the already depriving health sector.
The antibiotics became so common that every person in this world had an exposure to it at some point. As of today, people and leaders world-over have realized the side-effects of extreme antibiotics usage. In the last few years, the international community and world health organization have convened several meetings regarding limiting the distress caused by the antibiotics. At the global level, the organizations must force and encourage scientists to find a solution in the name of mankind. And, at the domestic level, the governments must create awareness among the citizens regarding the side-effects of the excess usage. Also, an individual’s duty is to have a complete knowledge of maintaining a personal hygiene and he must consult medical practitioners in cases of a health issue. A problem endangering entire society solves with a collective action and thus, everyone should work together to achieve a common goal.
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