Antibiotics help cure many pathologies, even the most complex ones, which could previously lead to death. But when using antibiotic therapy, you need to take into account the possibility of side effects.

How can the action manifest itself?

Side effects of antibiotics can manifest themselves in different ways: from ordinary nausea to pathological fatal conditions. And, as a rule, such manifestations are caused by incorrect prescription of medications or undisciplined use of such medications by the patient.

Allergic reaction to antibiotics

Side effects, manifested by symptoms of allergic formation when using antibiotics, are increased sensitivity (sensitization) of the body to such drugs.

The most common allergic reaction is caused by penicillins. This phenomenon is observed due to the high sensitization ability of the products, as well as the widespread use. The use of other types of antibiotic drugs does not cause allergies as often.

It can be noted that increased sensitivity of the body is observed when taking one group of drugs that are related in chemical components (penicillin, tetracycline, etc.). Side effects, manifested by allergy symptoms, can be observed not only in a sick person, but also in those whose professional activities are associated with antibiotics. These include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and employees of pharmaceutical companies.

If a person works in such an enterprise or in a medical institution, it is necessary to prevent the contact of medications on unprotected skin.

If the antibiotic causes an allergy, you should consult your doctor about changing the medication. It is not advisable to stop treatment on your own.

If a mild allergic reaction is observed (itching, rash or hives), the doctor will prescribe antihistamines and calcium-containing medications. If the allergic manifestation is of moderate severity (swelling, serum sickness), glucocorticoids are prescribed.

When there is anaphylactic shock, parenteral administration of adrenaline is prescribed. Afterwards, intravenous administration of glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone, prednisolone), antihistamines, and calcium-containing drugs is performed. Oxygen inhalation and warming the human body are also used. If the situation requires it, artificial respiration is performed.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract

The gastrointestinal tract is a rather vulnerable part of the body to taking antibiotic drugs. This section is the center of passage of the entire composition of the drug, and irritation and disruption of the natural microflora occurs.

You can note nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation - those reactions that occur primarily when the body is incompatible with the antibiotic. The most severe reaction is observed when taking medications on an empty stomach: direct contact with the stomach and intestines provokes severe irritation.

If possible, the doctor replaces antibiotics in tablet form with an intravenous method of administration. Often antibiotics can destroy beneficial microflora, after which dysbacteriosis is diagnosed, requiring long-term treatment. This disease causes great discomfort: bloating, unstable stool, colic.

Strong antibiotics in tablet form cause severe dysbiosis. In this case, bleeding gums and rupture of capillaries under the skin are observed.

The cause of severe disease is a lack of vitamin K, which is destroyed by antibiotics in the intestinal environment.

To eliminate dysbiosis, if it is impossible to cancel treatment with antibiotic drugs, the doctor prescribes medications that can restore beneficial bacteria in the intestines (probiotics, prebiotics).

Manifestation of thrush

Side effects may include the appearance of thrush. Thrush is popularly called candidiasis, in which specific discharge from the vaginal area is observed, which looks like a cheesy mass.

If treatment with antibiotics is necessary, if the development of thrush is observed in parallel, not only drugs that restore the microflora are used, but it is also recommended to take antifungal drugs to suppress pathogenic flora.

Doctors prescribe topical agents (ointments, suppositories).

Effect on internal organs

Side effects can include negative effects on internal organs. The action of the antibiotic itself is toxic. Its accumulation in the body occurs through organs such as the liver, kidneys, and spleen, thereby poisoning both the pathogen and the structural cells of these organs.

Hemotoxic effects are observed on the liver, especially in cases where there were previously problems with its functioning. The same effect occurs on the kidneys. A nephrotoxic effect may be observed, which causes disruption of the functioning of the entire body.

For existing renal and hepatic pathologies, before treatment with antibiotic drugs, the doctor must assess the risk of such treatment, constantly monitoring the progress of therapy.

Hemotoxicity and nephrotoxicity are accompanied by pain in the kidney area, irregular or increased secretion of urinary fluid.

A urine test determines the level of elevated creatinine. With liver damage, pain occurs in this area, general malaise, yellowing of the sclera and skin, darkening of the urine.

An equally common side effect is the appearance of neurotoxicosis. In this case, the development of deafness, blindness, and dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus is sometimes noted. With a moderate level of neurotoxicosis, only dizziness and heaviness in the head may occur. With a strong side effect, the auditory and visual systems and facial nerves are affected. Such damage may not be recoverable.

Other types of side effects on the human body

A hematological disorder may occur, which is considered in medicine the most severe adverse reaction to taking antibiotics. A hematological disorder consists of the development of a hemolytic type of anemia, in which the destruction of blood cells occurs when the molecular substance of drugs settles. Taking a drug such as Levomycetin can lead to severe damage.

An equally common reaction to the use of antibiotics is a local reaction, which directly depends on the method by which the drug was administered.

Many antibiotics, when administered, cause tissue irritation, provoking a local inflammatory reaction, abscesses, and allergic manifestations.

If intramuscular administration of the drug is observed, a painful infiltrate or compaction may form in the injection area.

In the case where sterility is not observed when administering the drug intramuscularly, the formation of suppuration (abscess) is possible. If intravenous administration of the drug is observed, an inflammatory process may occur in the venous walls: the development of phlebitis, which is accompanied by compacted painful formations along the line of the veins.

When using local products such as ointments, gels and aerosols, dermatitis or conjunctivitis may develop.

In any case, you should consult your doctor before using an antibiotic as treatment. The simplest rule for preventing side effects is to strictly follow the recommendations of your treating specialist.

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The most common side effects from taking antibiotics are nausea and diarrhea. Almost everyone knows about them - either from doctors or from their own experience. But American scientists have found that at least 20% of people who have taken antibiotics at least once in their lives have also experienced other side effects from the drugs. We will talk about them in this article.

We are in website We would like to emphasize that different people may experience different side effects from taking medications. You can always find a complete list of them in the instructions for the drug.

1. Sensitivity to the sun

Some antibiotics (tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and sulfones) can affect how your skin reacts to ultraviolet light. Excessive exposure to sunlight while taking medications may increase the chance of burning or severe peeling of the skin.

Fever can occur due to almost any antibiotic, but most often it accompanies the use of beta-lactams, cephalexin, minocycline and sulfonamide.

  • What to do?

If you develop a fever while taking an antibiotic, it will most likely go away on its own fairly quickly. But if the fever is strong and lasts too long, you need to try to bring it down and consult your doctor to change the antibiotic.

4. Fungal infection

Antibiotics change the bacterial environment of our bodies, so a person becomes vulnerable to fungi. They can occur in the mouth (stomatitis), on the skin or under the nails.

  • What to do?

If your doctor has prescribed you a long course of treatment, it is better to start taking antifungal drugs immediately along with antibiotics.

5. Heart problems

It doesn't happen often, but antibiotics can cause heart problems. They usually lead to arrhythmia or low blood pressure.

Most often, such side effects result from taking erythromycin and some fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin.

  • What to do?

Contact your doctor to change the antibiotic.

6. Teeth staining

One of the most dangerous reactions of the body to antibiotics is allergies. In this case, a person an itchy rash may appear, and the eyelids, lips, tongue and even throat may swell, leading to anaphylaxis. Sometimes in such situations a dose of adrenaline received in an ambulance can save the patient.

But an allergic reaction to a particular antibiotic does not mean that you are completely contraindicated in taking them.

  • What to do?

Be sure to tell your doctor about your existing allergies and take antibiotics from a different group. Also be careful when starting a new medicine that you have not tried before. At the first symptoms of an allergy, you should consult a doctor or an ambulance.

8. Unwanted pregnancy

If you experience any of the side effects while taking antibiotics, do not self-medicate or ignore your unwell health. Be sure to go to the doctor and get advice.

Were you aware of any of these medication side effects?

Instructions

One of the side effects from taking antibiotics is gastrointestinal disorders. Manifest in the form of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or. These occur immediately after taking the medicine and disappear some time after absorption. They are associated with the irritating effect of the pharmacological agent on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. If after each medication you are bothered by these symptoms, replace the drug with another one, preferably in the form of injections.

A fairly typical manifestation of side effects from taking antibiotics is intestinal dysbiosis. It is connected with the fact that in addition to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria, the drug kills beneficial microflora, which ensures a smooth digestion process. Dysbacteriosis manifests itself in the form of constipation or diarrhea, and feelings of discomfort. Unlike a simple reaction of the gastrointestinal tract, these phenomena occur much later, most often after the end of the course of treatment. To avoid such reactions, during treatment with antibiotics, take medications that contain live lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. In addition, drink kefir, yogurt or fermented baked milk on an empty stomach, 1 glass 3 times a day.

Often, when taking antibiotics, allergic reactions of varying severity occur, up to anaphylactic shock. Itching, redness and rash on the skin may occur on the second day of treatment. Dermatitis and eczema appear later, 2 weeks after starting treatment. If, after starting treatment, you notice manifestations of allergic reactions, immediately stop taking the drug and replace it with a drug from another group of antibiotics. In addition, start taking antihistamines to eliminate the effects of an allergic reaction.

Another common side effect of antibiotics is the occurrence of vaginal candidiasis. Antibacterial drugs suppress normal microflora and cause active proliferation of candida, a fungus that is not sensitive to antibiotics. If, some time after treatment, symptoms of candidiasis appear, such as itching and curdled discharge from the genital tract, start taking antifungal medications. Local treatment will be most effective - such products are available in the form of vaginal suppositories. To prevent such side effects, start taking antifungal drugs at the same time as antibiotics.

The benefits and harms of antibiotics depend on the specific disease and individual characteristics of the body. First of all, you should know what these compounds are and what their classification is.

Antibiotics are a group of medicines whose action is aimed at suppressing bacteria, microbes, fungi and other microorganisms in the body that cause infectious diseases.

What are antibiotics and their properties

The main property of compounds of this series, which distinguishes them from other drugs, is their selective effect. They are aimed at blocking specific microorganisms or groups of them, without having a negative effect on other types of bacteria, etc.

Features of the action of antibacterial drugs:

  1. A gradual decrease in the therapeutic effect due to the fact that the cells of a particular microorganism become accustomed to their effects over time.
  2. The activity of drugs does not occur in body tissues, but in the cells of pathogenic bacteria.

Antibiotics are classified according to the method of preparation:

  1. Natural.
  2. Artificially synthesized.
  3. Obtained through chemical modification of natural substances.

The presented classification is conditional, since many “natural” medicines are obtained exclusively by chemical synthesis.

Why are antibiotics harmful to the body?

The harm from the use of such dosage forms is due to the fact that they affect internal organs and systems. The negative effect is also caused by the decay products of pathogenic bacteria, which have a toxic effect on the organs and tissues of the body.

Liver after taking antibiotics

The liver is most susceptible to harmful effects, since the breakdown products of one or another antibacterial drug pass through it. The following phenomena may be observed:

  1. The appearance of inflammatory processes both in the liver itself and in the gall bladder.
  2. Negative impact on the metabolic process, which can lead to serious consequences.
  3. Pain syndrome occurs when the course of treatment with drugs of this group is prolonged.
  4. Gallbladder dysfunction.

Depending on the properties of the particular drug, other effects may occur.

Stomach and pancreas after taking antibiotics

Antibiotics affect the stomach and pancreas. The main harm is an increase in the acidity of gastric juice. Symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting often occur when the dosage of drugs is exceeded.

How antibiotics affect the heart

Medicines can be harmful to the cardiovascular system. This usually manifests itself as:

  1. Jumps in blood pressure, both in the form of an increase and a decrease.
  2. Arrhythmias, pulse disorders.

Some drugs can increase the risk associated with dangerous situations, including cardiac arrest. This is relevant for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of antibiotics on the kidneys

The kidneys are the second organ most susceptible to the harmful effects of drugs of this type. Negative manifestations are expressed in:

  1. Renal dysfunction.
  2. Changes in urine parameters, its smell and color.

Antibiotics are harmful to the kidneys because they can have a destructive effect on the epithelium that covers the outside of the organ.

The effect of antibiotics on the nervous system

Certain medications may cause adverse reactions from the nervous system. These include:

  1. Lethargy and significant slowdown in reaction.
  2. Dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus, loss of coordination and dizziness.
  3. Deterioration of short-term memory and concentration.

Effect on blood and urine tests

Medicines in this group affect the main parameters of blood and urine, which must be taken into account when taking tests.

Main characteristics changes:

  1. Decreased production of red blood cells.
  2. Decrease in leukocyte count.
  3. Certain medications increase the amount of histamines.
  4. Decreased platelet count.
  5. Decreased calcium and potassium levels.
  6. Decreased hemoglobin.
  7. Decreased platelet count.
  8. Effect on blood clotting.

Important! The listed changes are typical when taking individual medications, that is, the negative effect varies depending on the antibiotic taken.

The effect on urine test results may be as follows:

  1. Change in color and smell.
  2. Change in acidity level.

The vast majority of such drugs have a greater effect on blood parameters than urine.

The effect of antibiotics on potency

Most antibiotics used in modern medicine do not harm the health of men and their reproductive functions. During the course of treatment, some dysfunction may be observed, but it is associated not so much with the properties of the drugs, but with the general condition of the body, which spends internal resources on fighting infection. Sexual function is fully restored after completion of the course of treatment.

Why are antibiotics dangerous for children?

These products are more harmful to children than to adults. Possible damage to the kidneys and liver, allergic reactions, and pathological processes in the stomach and intestines. This effect of the drug on the children's body manifests itself in more severe forms, therefore many drugs are contraindicated for use by children under 8 years of age. In addition, certain medications can have a negative effect on tissue formation during the growth and development of the child’s body.

Is it possible to take antibiotics during pregnancy?

Many antibacterial drugs cannot be used during pregnancy, with the exception of: penicillin, cephalosporin, macroids. They are the safest for pregnant women. Other drugs can provoke pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, negatively affect the bacterial flora of the reproductive organs and harm the fetus. Therefore, the prescription of antibiotics during this period is made taking into account the balance of harm and benefit for both the expectant mother and the child.

The use of antibiotics should be minimized in the first trimester of pregnancy, since during this period all the baby’s basic vital systems are formed.

Antibiotics for breastfeeding

Certain antibiotics are acceptable for breastfeeding women. If their use is necessary, breastfeeding after taking antibiotics is not recommended. The decision on drug therapy with these drugs should be made by the attending physician based on how harmful specific antibiotics are for the baby and how necessary the woman is.

Side effects from taking antibiotics

In general, taking these medications can cause the following side effects:

  1. Damage to liver and kidney tissue.
  2. Damage to the nervous system, characterized by the appearance of dizziness and headaches, vestibular dysfunction.
  3. Negative effects on the microflora of the stomach and intestines.
  4. Damage to the oral mucosa and reproductive organs.
  5. Allergic reactions.
  6. Local reactions - dermatosis at the injection site and other skin pathologies.
  7. Increased body temperature.
  8. Changes in the menstrual cycle. Menstruation after antibiotics may be delayed or, on the contrary, appear earlier. Pain syndrome may occur.
  9. Antibiotics can be harmful to blood cells and cause anemia.

Important! Each drug has unique properties and a list of side effects. The easiest way to avoid them is to carry out treatment in strict accordance with medical recommendations.

Are there any benefits to antibiotics?

Despite the fact that taking antibiotics negatively affects the functioning of certain organs and systems of the body, this class of drugs in most cases is beneficial. It destroys harmful bacteria and prevents their reproduction. The indispensability of antibacterial drugs is due to the fact that other medications may not provide the necessary therapeutic effect in the treatment of bacterial infections. Therefore, the benefits and harms of antibiotics for the human body are determined in each case individually.

Indications for use

Diseases that benefit from antibiotics include:

  1. Pathologies of the nasopharynx of bacterial origin.
  2. Infectious skin diseases.
  3. Bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
  4. Bacterial infections of the genitourinary system.
  5. Intestinal and gastric pathologies caused by pathogenic bacteria.
  6. Prevention of infections in injuries, for the treatment of purulent wounds.

The properties of antibiotics are such that their use is advisable for the treatment of pathologies caused by pathogenic microflora.

How to take antibiotics without harm to health

Antibacterial drugs are potent in their properties, therefore, in order for the treatment to take place with maximum benefit for the patient, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations:

  1. The main rule is not to self-medicate, do not adjust the timing and dosage of medications at your own discretion. Correctly selected dosage is the key to ensuring that medications do not cause adverse reactions and cause minimal harm to organs and tissues.
  2. Any potent medicine has a list of contraindications. The attending physician must take into account all diseases in the medical history, and the patient must carefully read the instructions for the drug prescribed by the doctor. Phenomena such as individual intolerance to a particular substance or allergic reactions can only be identified during the process of taking the medicine. In this case, you should promptly consult a doctor who will replace the antibiotic with an acceptable option.
  3. Most of these medications should be taken after meals to reduce the negative impact on stomach acidity and intestinal microflora. For this reason, tablets should be taken with plenty of water.
  4. Antibacterial agents cannot be combined with the simultaneous intake of alcoholic beverages: at a minimum, this can reduce the effectiveness of treatment, in the worst case, have a serious negative effect on the body.
  5. Possible harm from drugs is often stopped by probiotics, i.e. substances with the opposite effect, which are taken only on the recommendation of a specialist.
  6. It is allowed to take vitamin-mineral complexes that smooth out the harmful effects of antibiotics.

Consequences of uncontrolled use of antibiotics

Massive and uncontrolled self-medication is a serious problem in medical practice. The use of medications without a doctor’s prescription and supervision is harmful and dangerous:

  1. Lack of effect and benefit. This class of medications is aimed at treating diseases of bacterial and infectious origin. If the cause of the disease is other factors, treatment with drugs is not effective, but adverse reactions from their effects on the body persist.
  2. Decreased immunity and addiction. Harmful bacteria tend to adapt to the action of antibiotics, so in the future the medication may not be beneficial. In addition, it can negatively affect healthy bacterial flora, which may cause decreased immunity.
  3. It has been proven that excessive use of antibiotics can increase the risk of cancer.
  4. The percentage of allergic reactions is high.

That is why medications will only be beneficial if recommended by the attending physician.

Antibiotics and alcohol

In most cases, the simultaneous use of antibacterial agents and alcohol is contraindicated. Medicines in this group themselves place a heavy burden on the liver and kidneys. Drinking alcohol can significantly increase the intoxication of these organs.

The effect of alcohol and antibiotics on the body is ambiguous. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of most medications (and therefore the benefits of use) are reduced, and the negative effect on the liver increases. Therefore, you should focus on medical recommendations and rules for using a specific antibacterial agent.

How long does it take for antibiotics to leave the body?

The time frame for removing antibiotics from the body is individual in each case. This is influenced by factors such as:

  1. Properties of the medicine.
  2. Individual properties of the body, including metabolic rate.
  3. Diet.
  4. Characteristics of the disease.

The peak concentration of most substances in the blood occurs after eight hours. The average withdrawal time is from one day to a week after the end of the course.

How to restore the body after taking antibiotics

After completing the course of treatment, you should help the body neutralize the negative effect of taking the drugs. This can be done using the following methods:

  1. Taking vitamin complexes.
  2. Taking probiotics, the properties of which will help restore the microflora.
  3. Adjustment of the daily diet, consumption of foods high in biologically active substances. Fermented milk products are especially useful.
  4. When antibacterial drugs have an undue effect on the liver, hepatoprotectors are prescribed to restore its functions.

Recovery will be quick if you strictly follow medical recommendations. A properly calculated dosage of the drug and treatment regimen are the key to rapid restoration of the functions of internal organs.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of antibiotics are determined in each case individually. In most cases, the benefits of their use are quite noticeable. They are indispensable for the treatment of diseases of bacterial origin. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the recommendations of your doctor.

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Side effects of antibiotics

Recently, along with issues of microbial resistance to antibiotics, problems have arisen related to the side effects of antibiotics on the patient’s body. There are various classifications of side effects of antibiotics. The most complete of them is the classification of Kh.Kh. Planelles (1967), which divides the side effects of antibiotics into two main groups depending on the causes that cause them.

Thus, the side effect of an antibiotic on the patient’s body may be associated with the direct effect of the antibiotic, which has high toxic properties. On the other hand, the side effect of an antibiotic on the patient’s body may be due to the condition of the body itself, associated with its sensitization to the drug, as well as the development of dysbiosis.

Complications of antibiotic therapy

Complications during antibiotic therapy can be presented as:

Allergic reactions of the patient's body to the administration of an antibiotic: 1) anaphylactic type reactions (anaphylactic shock, serum sickness); 2) skin reactions; 3) organotropic effect of antibiotics as a result of allergization of the body.

Toxic effect of the antibiotic on the body: 1) neurotoxic effect (effect on the central nervous system, development of neuritis, polyneuritis, neuromuscular block); 2) toxic effect on internal organs and the hematopoietic system; 3) teratogenic effect (toxic effect on the developing fetus).

Allergic reaction (for the administration of an antibiotic) - a pathological condition of the patient’s body, caused by sensitization with an antibiotic. The nature of this reaction varies - from mild skin manifestations to the development of anaphylactic shock. An allergic reaction can be caused by any antibiotic, but it especially often occurs when administered penicillin.

Anaphylactic shock is one of the most severe complications of antibiotic therapy in terms of its manifestations and prognosis. In almost 94% of cases, the cause of anaphylactic shock is sensitization of the patient’s body to penicillin. However, there is evidence of the development of shock after the administration of streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and other antibiotics. In this case, the route of administration of the antibiotic into the patient’s body does not matter for the development of shock; however, anaphylactic shock more often develops with parenteral administration of antibiotics.

Allergic skin reactions symptoms arising from the administration of antibiotics can be varied in nature: urticaria; erythematous, bullous rashes; exfoliative dermatitis; roseolous or papular rashes; measles-like or scarlet-like rash.

Angioedema angioedema develops relatively rarely when treated with antibiotics. As a rule, it is combined with other manifestations of skin allergic reactions.

Other allergic reactions during antibiotic therapy include allergic rhinitis, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, hemorrhagic vasculitis, as well as a rare skin lesion - the Arthus-Sakharov phenomenon.

Therapeutic measures in case of allergic reactions to antibiotics, they are determined by their nature and the severity of the patient’s condition. In the event of the development of anaphylactic shock, therapy should be based on the principle of resuscitation measures, including anti-shock therapy: the use of vasopressors (1% mezatone solution 1 ml, 5% ephedrine solution 1-2 ml, adrenaline, norepinephrine diluted 1: 1000 0.5-1 ml intravenously), cardiac drugs, hormonal, desensitizing and antihistamine drugs. In case of respiratory arrest - mechanical ventilation, in case of cardiac arrest - closed cardiac massage. An effective means for removing a patient from anaphylactic shock are adrenal hormones (hydrocortisone, prednisolone in an amount of 50-100 mg). Patients are injected intravenously with physiological saline solution, 5% glucose solution, Ringer's solution, native or dried plasma, and fresh whole blood. Antishock therapy should include good oxygenation of the body (the air inhaled by the patient should be enriched with oxygen). In case of anaphylactic shock to penicillin, it is recommended to administer penicillinase intravenously at a dose of 800,000 units. Its administration is carried out after the patient has been brought out of shock.

In the vast majority of cases, allergic skin reactions are easily treatable. To do this, it is necessary to cancel antibiotics and use antihistamines. However, in some cases, skin reactions last quite a long time. In such cases, it is recommended to prescribe corticosteroid drugs.

Methods for detecting sensitization of a patient’s body to an antibiotic. Since allergic reactions that occur when an antibiotic is introduced into a patient’s body can lead to serious consequences, it is natural to strive to prevent their occurrence. The only way to prevent the development of an allergic reaction is to avoid antibiotic therapy. The justification for refusing antibiotic therapy may be the presence of sensitization to the antibiotic in the patient.

Detection of hypersensitivity to an antibiotic in a patient should begin with a study of anamnestic data related to the patient’s past use of antibiotics. It is important to find out how the patient’s body reacted to the administration of the antibiotic. It is very important to pay attention to the allergic status of the patient - the presence of bronchial asthma, allergic bronchitis, rhinitis, urticaria. This information is usually enough to refuse antibiotic therapy.

In cases where it is not possible to accurately determine from the patient’s medical history whether the patient is intolerant to antibiotics, before administering antibiotic therapy, it is necessary to use special research methods aimed at identifying the sensitization of the patient’s body to antibiotics.

For this purpose, in clinical practice cutaneous, intradermal, conjunctival and other tests are used. However, the diagnostic value of these tests must be taken critically. They are important only for positive reactions, while negative reactions are not yet a basis for excluding sensitization of the body. In addition, the test itself can cause the development of an anaphylactic reaction in the patient, up to the development of anaphylactic shock.

Therefore, laboratory tests have now been developed that make it possible, in vitro, to establish the presence of an allergic condition in the cells of the patient’s body or to detect the presence of antibodies in him. These tests are based on: a) bioanalysis of antibodies fixed on cells and contained in the patient’s blood serum; b) rosette formation reactions of basophils with erythrocytes or inert particles loaded with allergens; c) radioallergosorbent test and its modifications. However, all these methods are quite labor-intensive, time-consuming and often subjective in evaluation.

G.L. Feofilov et al. (1989) proposed to use a biophysical method - immunothermistography - to determine the sensitization of a patient’s body to antibiotics. The method is based on recording changes in the thermal conductivity of a biological medium during the development of an immunological antigen-antibody reaction in it, which entails a change in voltage on the microthermistor, which is recorded by the recording device of the device in the form of thermistograms. It is relatively simple, does not take much time, has high sensitivity and objectivity of the data obtained, and is harmless to the patient. To perform it, blood is taken from the patient, serum is obtained from it, into which an antigen - an antibiotic - is injected. The resulting mixture is subjected to research. The patient's urine can be used instead of blood.

Toxic effect of antibiotic on the patient's body is manifested by the direct effect of the drug on that or other organ. Damage to the central nervous system when using antibiotics is rare, and if it occurs, it is only when the antibiotic is administered into the spinal canal.

At the same time, with the use of some antibiotics, cases of mental disorders are observed, which P.L. Seltsovsky (1948) defines it as “the phenomenon of mental disorientation.” In some cases, they manifest themselves in the form of hallucinations.

The neurotoxic effects of antibiotics include the development of neuritis and polyneuritis in the patient and, first of all, damage to the auditory nerve, which is accompanied by hearing loss and vestibular disorders. These complications are typical for antibiotics such as streptomycin, neomycin, monomycin, kanamycin, ristomycin, biomycin. Among the neuritis that develops under the influence of an antibiotic, one should mention optic neuritis, which occurs after the use of streptomycin, polymyxin, chloramphenicol, cycloserine.

There are reports in the literature about the toxic effects of streptomycin, cycloserine, and polymyxin on peripheral nerves. But peripheral neuritis is rare.

The neurotoxic effect of antibiotics can manifest itself as the development of a neuromuscular block. This complication is caused by neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin and is expressed by the occurrence of respiratory arrest in patients operated on under endotracheal anesthesia with the use of muscle relaxants, if they were administered antibiotics during the operation.

A fairly rare complication of antibiotic therapy is the effect of antibiotics on hematopoiesis. It is caused by chloramphenicol, ristomycin, streptomycin, amphotericin B. The effect of antibiotics on hematopoietic organs is manifested by inhibition of hemo- and leukopoiesis due to inhibition of the function of one of the sprouts or complete aplasia of the bone marrow (hypoplastic and aplastic anemia develops).

Complications of antibiotic therapy include hematological syndrome that develops after the prescription of antibiotics. Changes in the peripheral blood with it are of the most varied nature and are manifested by eosinophilia, agranulocytosis, aplastic hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia. However, eosinophilia is most common.

A number of antibiotics (tetracycline, erythromycin, amphotericin, etc.) have a toxic effect on the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, glossitis, and anorectitis in patients. Most often, these complications develop after the use of tetracycline.

Some antibiotics (polymyxin, neomycin, amphotericin, monomycin, streptomycin, ristocetin) have a nephrotoxic effect, and tetracycline, novobiocin, streptomycin, erythromycin, etc. have a toxic effect on liver tissue.

The organotoxic effect of antibiotics can also manifest itself on the organs of the cardiovascular system. The patient develops an attack of angina pectoris, extrasystole, blood pressure decreases, periarteritis nodosa, and hemorrhagic vasculitis develops.

The toxic effect of the antibiotic can be manifested by its effect on the developing fetus. There are known cases of damage to the liver, kidneys, and hearing organs in newborns when treating a pregnant woman with neomycin, kanamycin, monomycin, and streptomycin.

Knowing about the toxic effect of antibiotics on the organs and systems of the patient’s body, they should not be prescribed to patients in whom these organs are affected by any pathological process.