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The power of your gut

Is it normal that antibiotics give my child diarrhea?

Antibiotics
The gut microbiota Antibiotic-associated diarrhea Have you heard of "dysbiosis"? Obesity Type 2 diabetes Asthma Functional gastrointestinal disorders

As the main tool in the fight against bacterial infections, antibiotics save lives. However, in destroying the species that cause the infections, they also eradicate the good bacteria in our bodies, known as the microbiota, and can cause side effects especially in our gut flora.1

So, is it normal that antibiotics give your child diarrhea? Answer below!

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Sources

This article is based on scientific information

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About this article

Created 09 May 2022
Updated 14 October 2022

Diarrhea can affect up to 80% of children taking antibiotic treatment.

Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have been the main weapon in the fight against bacterial infections and have increased life expectancy by almost 20 years, in parallel with vaccinations.2

However, although antibiotics eradicate the (sidenote: Pathogen A pathogen is a microorganism that causes, or may cause, disease. Pirofski LA, Casadevall A. Q and A: What is a pathogen? A question that begs the point. BMC Biol. 2012 Jan 31;10:6. ) bacteria responsible for our infections, they can also destroy some beneficial bacteria in our microbiota causing an imbalance within this complex ecosystem, this is called (sidenote: Dysbiosis Generally defined as an alteration in the composition and function of the microbiota caused by a combination of environmental and individual-specific factors. Levy M, Kolodziejczyk AA, Thaiss CA, et al. Dysbiosis and the immune system. Nat Rev Immunol. 2017;17(4):219-232.   ) .3

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Up to 35% of patients may be affected by Antibiotics-Associated Diarrhea

Up to 80% of children may be affected by Antibiotics-Associated Diarrhea

This dysbiosis can have consequences for our health, such as bowel transit changes that can lead to antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD):4 this is moreover the most common side effect of antibiotics in the short term.

28.10.2021 6 things you should know about antibiotics Read more

It is usually mild and stops by itself after 1–5 days. It can affect up to 35% of patients4–6 on antibiotics but in children, this figure can reach 80%.5

Antibiotics could generate longer-term effects

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is not the only side effect, the dysbiosis is supposedly responsible for longer-term effects when it occurs very early in life. During the perinatal period, that is the critical time window for the development and maturation of the microbiota and of the immune system,7 disruption of the gut microbiota associated with the taking of antibiotics is suspected to increase the risk of several chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, asthma, chronic inflammatory bowel disease).8

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03.08.2021 Antibiotic-associated diarrhea Read more

In addition, poor compliance with antibiotic treatments (excessive or inappropriate use) is responsible for antibiotic resistance,9 meaning that antibiotic treatment is no longer effective against bacterial infection. This phenomenon leads to longer hospital stays, even sometimes deaths, and rising health care costs.

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Each year, from 18–24 November, the WHO holds its World Antimicrobial Awareness Week to promote the correct use of antibiotics and to encourage the general public, health professionals, and politicians to adopt best practices to combat the emergence and spread of resistance.

28.10.2021 Antimicrobial resistance: a global threat, an international response Read more
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What is the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week?

Each year, since 2015, the WHO organizes the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), which aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance. 

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi change over time and no longer respond to medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
Held on 18-24 November, this campaign encourages the general public, healthcare professionals and decision-makers to use antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics carefully, to prevent the further emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Sources

1 Blaser MJ. Antibiotic use and its consequences for the normal microbiome. Science. 2016;352(6285):544-545.

2 WHO https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2012/11/self-prescription-of-antibiotics-boosts-superbugs-epidemic-in-the-european-region/antibiotic-resistance

3. Levy M, Kolodziejczyk AA, Thaiss CA, et al. Dysbiosis and the immune system. Nat Rev Immunol. 2017;17(4):219-232. 

4 Bartlett JG. Clinical practice. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea. N Engl J Med 2002;346:334-9.

5 McFarland LV, Ozen M, Dinleyici EC et al. Comparison of pediatric and adult antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(11):3078-3104. 

6 Theriot CM, Young VB. Interactions Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Clostridium difficile. Annu Rev Microbiol. 2015;69:445-461.  

7 Aires J. First 1000 Days of Life: Consequences of Antibiotics on Gut Microbiota. Front Microbiol. 2021 May 19; 

8. Queen J, Zhang J, Sears CL. Oral antibiotic use and chronic disease: long-term health impact beyond antimicrobial resistance and Clostridioides difficile. Gut Microbes. 2020;11(4):1092-1103. 

9  WHO Antimicrobial Resistance; Oct 2020

Tags
AAD Dysbiosis Antibiotics Antibiotic resistance Gut microbiota Diarrhea Children & baby health Child health WAAW World Antimicrobial Awareness Week Antimicrobials World Microbiome Day

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    See also

    Actu GP : Antibiotiques : quels impacts sur le microbiote intestinal ? Impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiota
    Antibiotics and neurodevelopmental disorders: does the microbiota play a role?
    Created 09 May 2022
    Updated 14 October 2022

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