Warnings Issued on Antibiotic Use Following Sudden Death of Egyptian Bride
The recent death of a bride in Nasr City, Egypt, has shocked the local community and reignited concerns over the misuse of antibiotics. Medical reports indicate that her death was linked to the consumption of an antibiotic without medical supervision, highlighting the potential health risks associated with such practices.
* A Unique Challenge in Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab, head of the liver transplant team at Mansoura University, stated that the misuse of antibiotics in Egypt is unprecedented globally. He noted that while many countries prohibit the sale of these medications without a prescription, in Egypt, they are readily available at pharmacies, often without any prescription required.
Abdel Wahab emphasized that this indiscriminate use has diminished the effectiveness of antibiotics against microbes, warning of severe health consequences and urging the Ministry of Health to implement strict regulations banning the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions, while also enhancing oversight of pharmacies to ensure compliance.
* Serious Side Effects
He cautioned that antibiotics can lead to severe side effects, particularly affecting the liver and kidneys, as well as causing issues in the intestinal and gastric lining, which may result in fungal overgrowth in the digestive system and chronic diarrhea without apparent cause. Research has also indicated potential negative impacts on the spinal cord.
* Allergies and Bacterial Resistance
Dr. Jamal Shaaban, former dean of the National Cardiology Institute, confirmed that some patients may develop severe allergies due to antibiotic use, stressing the importance of conducting allergy tests within hospitals rather than outpatient clinics to ensure patient safety.
Shaaban further explained that the overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of bacterial strains resistant to even the most potent antibiotics, posing an increasing threat to treatment efficacy and raising the risk of liver failure.
He concluded by warning that antibiotic misuse represents a form of "slow death" for the body, calling for stricter regulations on their distribution and urging cautious use exclusively within hospital settings.
