Introduction
Antibiotics are used against bacterial infections and are designed to kill the pathogenic bacteria. Usually, they fulfil this task even if they are taken correctly and there is no resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotic. In our gastrointestinal tract, however, there are not only pathogenic bacteria, but also bacteria that support digestion and are important for a good gastrointestinal flora.
The antibiotic also has an effect on these “good” bacteria and therefore the entire gastrointestinal flora is thrown out of balance by the intake of an antibiotic. In almost one third of cases, antibiotics cause complaints such as stomach ache or diarrhoea. This is the most common reason for discontinuing antibiotic therapy.
However, under no circumstances should you stop taking the medication yourself because of gastrointestinal complaints. Stopping the antibiotic early can lead to antibiotic resistance of the bacteria, which makes further therapy and healing more difficult. It is therefore very important to take the medication for as long as prescribed by the doctor and to complete the therapy even if the symptoms improve.
If gastro-intestinal complaints occur, the doctor should be contacted and the antibiotic should not be discontinued without authorisation. As a rule, the body itself ensures that the normal intestinal flora and the previous functionality are restored after the antibiotic therapy has ended. To support the build-up, special yeast cultures or bacterial extracts can be taken from the pharmacy. Probiotic yoghurt can also have a positive effect on the intestinal flora, as the balance of the intestinal germs is restored. or Yakult®.
Treatment
If abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal complaints occur during antibiotic therapy, the antibiotic should never be discontinued without authorisation. This carries the risk that the bacteria will develop resistance to the drug, making further treatment and healing more difficult. In the case of abdominal pain, an attempt should first be made to alleviate the symptoms by applying heat or other household remedies.
If diarrhoea also occurs, it is very important to compensate for the loss of water and electrolytes. Drinking plenty of water and unsweetened tea is advisable, possibly also special electrolyte solutions which are available in pharmacies. In addition, taking yeast preparations helps to restore the natural intestinal flora.
The complaints are usually quite harmless and subside of their own accord after the antibiotic therapy has ended. Probiotic yoghurts can help to restore the normal intestinal flora afterwards. If the symptoms are very severe or there is a very high loss of fluid due to diarrhoea, a doctor should be consulted. This doctor can decide whether the antibiotic should be continued or discontinued.
Abdominal pain in children and babies
Children and babies in particular are very susceptible to bacterial infections because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. For this reason, antibiotic therapy is unfortunately often necessary to combat the bacterial pathogens. Also in children and babies, abdominal pain and diarrhoea often occur as a side effect of taking the medication.
However, diarrhoea can be particularly dangerous for small children, as a lack of fluids can quickly develop. As a precaution, children can therefore, just like adults, take the medicinal yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, which supports the natural intestinal flora. If diarrhoea persists for a longer period of time or if vomiting is added, a paediatrician should be consulted to decide on further treatment.
