Using too many antibiotics may cause death to everyone within about 50 years: Pediatrician

23 November 2023 12:49 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 16 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - Using antibiotics without a doctor's prescription could cause the death of necessary bacteria that are needed for the survival of the body, and the diseases caused by the creation of resistant bacteria in the body spreading throughout society could cause death for everyone within about 50 years, Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.

Commenting on the 'World Antibiotic Awareness Week' from November 18 to 24, he further said that the world's antimicrobial experts have discovered this through research.

Dr. Perera points out that antibiotics weaken and kill bacteria, and in excess, beneficial bacteria too are killed.

He requested parents not to give antibiotics to children unnecessarily other than in the most required situation. Giving antibiotics unnecessarily to children will create resistance to antibiotics in their bodies.

Antibiotics should be used only if necessary in cases of bacterial infections. Doctors recommend this while taking into consideration many factors, including the age and weight of the person concerned.

"Antibiotics are not necessary for viral fevers and diarrhea. For coughs, colds, and minor injuries, antibiotics should be taken only on a doctor's prescription," Dr. Perera said.

It is necessary to take the prescribed dose of antibiotic during the particular period.

He further mentioned that due to the high cost of antibiotics, research on antibiotics worldwide is minimal.

If we are unable to find new antibiotics in the future, everyone will die due to bacterial infections, he added.

Comments - 16

This is obvious Thursday, 23 November 2023 02:58 AM

Hello Doctor, the information you are giving is something that has been available for many years in the internet for everyone to read. But because you are a doctor our gullible Sri Lankans would imagine that you contributed in establishing this scientific fact. This is how the doctors fool the people and keep their profession look “ Essential and Superior”. Look millions died of COVID world wide in this modern world of AI and the Doctors could not do anything about it, if there were genuine science experts in charge of medicine then COVID would not have occurred. What the world need is SCIENTISTS and not Doctors.

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jaya Thursday, 23 November 2023 03:08 AM

Antibiotics can not be purchased over the counter without a prescription from a doctor. Who is misleading the public?

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Mahila Thursday, 23 November 2023 03:22 AM

This is nothing NEW? This was even advocated by Pediatricians' and other Specialist 70 years ago!!?? Well said Dr Perera, our people tend to forget, and thankful for your timely reminder, which very welcome!!

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Sarath Thursday, 23 November 2023 03:55 AM

“ using antibiotics without doctor’s prescription could cause …”— what a bullshit !. Do doctors know how to test scientifically in details whether a patient needs antibiotics or not ? No, the doctors don’t have anyway of knowing if the antibiotics is needed or not . In reality they prescribe it based on pure “common knowledge” and “ common sense”. Anyone with little experience like Nurses and Pharmacists are fully capable to prescribe the antibiotics, a doctor is not important here. This is similar to what doctors said about injections in the past, they said only they should be allowed to do it as administering injection according to them is very difficult and needs medical degree. But now anyone can administer injection.

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wickrama wijayasiri Thursday, 23 November 2023 04:17 AM

True and false at the same time. "Antibiotic use should not be abused", should be the advise here. Many patients in all countries use AB's as a cure-all. One should understant the word 'Antibiotic' first. Viruses should not be treated with AB's as they are of no use except in the psyche of the patient. AB's should be prescribed by doctots only, after testing. As tests take a long time, most experienced physicians use their judgement. An AB course must be completed instead of staching the unused for later use. They should be refregerated if possible. All medications used by the patient, must be disclosed to evaluate drug inter-reactions. The good doctor is correct. Use as prescribed by a medical specialist, as directed ONLY. Developing immunity and resistance to AB's is harmful to the entire population. Strict control of dispensing is required. Developing a medical registry to the entire population, at this point of time, would be a pipe dream.

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wickrama wijayasiri Thursday, 23 November 2023 04:23 AM

Patients, be cautious. Too many AB's will kill many of the beneficial bacteria in your gut to develop gut diseases. Consume fermented products and yoghurt or curd. Some gut diseases may require fecal transplants, as cure, which I do not believe is available in SL.

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Fred Thursday, 23 November 2023 05:52 AM

Then you must stop the practice of pharmacies selling drugs without prescriptions , a getting back to basics approach, often there are financial constraints which have to be addressed which cause this behaviour in patients and lax practices the bigger picture what action have you taken on these fronts

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Bandu Thursday, 23 November 2023 07:43 AM

Where is the research paper doctor. Or you are speculating with no data? sadly quality of SL doctors keeps dropping.

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Chaminda Rathnayake Thursday, 23 November 2023 07:46 AM

Give us the research findings

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sss Thursday, 23 November 2023 07:49 AM

The Dr should first tell this to his fellow doctors in Sri lanka. The doctors are ever ready to give a wide spectrum of medicines even for fever

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Christo255 Thursday, 23 November 2023 09:28 AM

Tell it to the doctors themselves. Go to a doctor for the flu, which is basically viral, our doctors without tests will give paracetamol, Piriton and amoxycillin.

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Mohan Thursday, 23 November 2023 09:43 AM

"If we are unable to find new antibiotics in the future, everyone will die due to bacterial infections" This can't be true, because everyone did not die before antibiotics were discovered by Alexander Fleming. Only that the death rate was high.

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ruwan Thursday, 23 November 2023 11:04 AM

very interestingly when a news is published here and it has even a little bit of something about a doctor, a group of people come and put the same sort of comments.. seems they are desperately waiting for a news like that.

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P P Thursday, 23 November 2023 01:14 PM

@ Ruwan , no, this is what you do !!!! All the time waiting to defend the doctors as if doctors are so special . You must be either brainless or mad , to think that doctors are not “ fooling the people “ .

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N V Jen Thursday, 23 November 2023 05:12 PM

Agreed, but isn't it a fact that it's your doctor clan that prescribes anti-biotics for even a common cold, that too high potency and of course expensive ones? All at the behest of the pharmaceutical mafia!

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wickrama wijayasiri Friday, 24 November 2023 08:13 AM

Listen to the doctor, or pesrish. AB resistant bacteria is not good for the entire population. In most cases patients want some medication as value for the fees they paid the doctor. Sometime they insist on AB's. Viral diseases DO NOT respond to AB's unless you have developed a secondary Bacterial disease. If not for the bacteria we all be dead! How do you think that food is digested? LISTEN TO THE DOCTOR!

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