Ear infections, chest infection, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections, although common, can be dangerous. As it turns out, so can common treatments.
Doctors tend to prescribe antibiotics when patients come in with one of these common illnesses. But that treatment could lay the foundation for severe illness in the near future.
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A new study has noted that patients who received multiple antibiotic treatments for common infections are significantly more likely to be hospitalized with a severe illness within a few months.
The researchers analyzed data from 2 million patients in England and Wales that had received antibiotic prescriptions between 2000 and 2016. The prescriptions were used to treat common:
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Ear infections
- Chest infections
They found that individuals who had undergone nine or more antibiotic cycles over three years were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized with another infection in three or more months. Further, the risk was:
- 1.77 times higher those who’d undergone five to eight cycles.
- 1.33 times higher for those who’d been given three or four prescriptions.
- 1.23 times higher for those who’d taken antibiotics twice in that period.
One of the reasons multiple cycles of antibiotics may boost the risk of future illness is that they kill off healthful bacteria. This can boost the likelihood of infection.
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Antibiotics do not target specific pathogens, acting more like a carpet bomb on your microbiota. The more you take them, the more healthful bacteria you’re likely to kill.
Aside from doctors using different treatment methods, some things you might be able to do to reduce the risk of these common infections include:
- Informing your doctor of any antibiotic cycles you’ve taken recently.
- Eating a nutrient-rich diet that’s high in fiber and antioxidants.
- Taking extracts that may have strong antiviral or antibacterial properties. These can include garlic, onions, honey, thyme, and oregano.
- Staying hydrated
- Including probiotic supplementation or fermented foods into your diet.
- Washing hands regularly
Building a strong immune system can help prevent infection and aid recovery following antibiotic treatments. Keep an eye on what you eat, and how you are treated, to reduce the risk of a serious infection.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
