Why antibiotics cause digestive disorders?
03.18.2024

Viruses and bacteria are the main causes of digestive disorders and diarrhea. In addition, digestive disorders after taking antibiotics are also very common, especially in young children.
This is an unwanted side effect and can go away on its own after a few days of stopping taking antibiotics.

1. Causes of digestive disorders after long-term antibiotic use
In the intestinal tract, a large number of bacteria live. In healthy body conditions, these bacteria play a role in supporting digestive function, absorption as well as eliminating waste from the intestinal tract.

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Beneficial bacteria also help protect the intestinal tract by preventing dangerous bacteria from entering from the outside. Therefore, a balanced gut flora is vitally important.
Meanwhile, antibiotics are extremely powerful drugs, even when used at the lowest concentrations, they can kill and inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Benign bacteria in the intestines are also affected by antibiotics, especially when patients take high doses of antibiotics or use antibiotics for a long time. The intestinal balance is therefore disrupted, promoting pathogenic bacteria already hidden in the digestive system and new bacteria to invade, leading to digestive disorders after taking antibiotics.

2. Symptoms of digestive disorders after using antibiotics
Symptoms of digestive disorders caused by antibiotics usually occur from day 2 to day 8 or 9 of antibiotic treatment. Some typical symptoms are as follows:

  • Diarrhea: defecation more than 3 times/day.
  • Condition of raw stools, sometimes with thick mucus.
  • Abdominal pain: dull pain for many hours, intermittent pain.
  • Bloating: bloating, indigestion, not feeling hungry.

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3. How to handle digestive disorders after using antibiotics
To quickly improve symptoms of digestive disorders after taking antibiotics, coordinate the measures below.
Supplement probiotics
Supplementing probiotics helps establish microflora balance, preventing digestive disorders and diarrhea.

  • How to supplement: Supplement probiotics through fermented foods such as yogurt, cheese, pickled cabbage or drink probiotic products. In particular, taking probiotics is considered convenient and more effective.
  • Criteria for selecting probiotics: Select probiotic spore supplements. Probiotic spores are not destroyed by acid and digestive enzymes in the stomach, so they have better stability than regular probiotics. Some recommended microbial strains are Lactobacillus, B.subtilis, B.clausii.
  • Note: Probiotics should be taken 2 hours after taking antibiotics, to avoid the case of antibiotics destroying and reducing the effectiveness of the beneficial bacteria in the yeast.

In addition, you should use antibiotics according to your doctor's instructions, pay attention to your diet, and when you have the above signs, go to the hospital for a check-up immediately to accurately diagnose the cause and prevent complications. dangerous complications.
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