Adverse Effects of Oral Amoxicillin - Coursework Example

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ORAL AMOXCILLIN (Student Name) (Course No.) (Lecturer) (University) (Date) INTRODUCTION The differentiated nature of diseases causing organisms has been viewed as the major reason behind the discovery and subsequent use of several categories of medicines. One of such broad categories is referred to as the Antibiotics. Antibiotics are prescribed and used to treat bacterial infections depending on the kind, and a particular definition of the bacteria addressed. Research indicates that there are millions of bacteria causing various kinds of infections. Therefore, a broad category of antibiotics has been discovered to help address these infections (Cunha 2001). Amoxicillin is one of the broad classes of antibiotics which are used to treat a relatively broad spectrum of bacterial infections. Some of the common areas of infections treated with this drug include throat, nose, ears, skin and even the urinary track. The drug is administered in different forms. In children, amoxicillin is administered orally in the liquid or chewable form. The correct prescription of the drug to be administered is determined in regards to several conditions such as the weight of the child. Despite its significance in treating a wide range of bacterial infections, oral amoxicillin presents various side effects in children. This paper intends to focus the conditions or diseases which arise from the use of oral amoxicillin in children from the neonatal stage to the age of twelve. Besides, it seeks to determine the period within which such side effects are seen after the use of such a drug in children and how such conditions can affect the future life of a child (Mandel et al. 1987). Adverse effects of oral amoxicillin in children which later affects them in life Children are usually prone to several bacterial infections. Te low immunity levels experienced in a child is one of the predisposing conditions that explain the vulnerable nature of children as opposed to older people. Therefore, pediatricians recommend the use of oral amoxicillin in addressing some of the infections such as throat, nose, skins and ear infections in children from the neonatal stage of development to the age of twelve (Smith & Burtner 1994). Despite the significance of this category of medicine, there are some adverse effects of using oral amoxicillin among children. Some of these effects are presented as diseases while others manifest as conditions in different periods after the use o the drug. Some most common conditions which result from the use of oral amoxicillin in children include; Seizures Complication (epilepsy) Seizures have been regarded as some of the lifetime conditions which are predisposed by using antibiotics such as oral amoxicillin in children. These kinds of complications are however few in other antibiotics. In most cases, antibiotics are regarded as CNS-safe, and also they possess infrequent patterns of neurotoxicity. This makes them reliably used in little children. Oral amoxicillin has however been associated with anecdotal reports which confirm its possibility of causing seizures after administration. The condition is likely to become severe and lead to other complications such as epilepsy in a person. Most studies associate seizures and even epileptic conditions to have resulted from the administration of Oral amoxicillin during the tender age of a child. Most Beta-lactam antibiotics are associated with this life conditions (Telian et al. 1986). Most studies conducted on the exact incidence of seizures after the administration of Oral amoxicillin have scanty information. The complication which arises that further leads to the seizures is not known up to today. However, research studies continue to occur with the objective of ascertaining the exact incidence of this condition in patients. However, some known facts relating to the occurrence of seizures to children who possess seizure risk factors. The conditions are further complicated when such a child is given Oral amoxicillin treatment. Seizures lead to frequent fainting and collapsing in patients. Whenever the condition goes into severe stages, it leads to other conditions such as epilepsy (Mandel et al. 1987). Most patients who suffer from epileptic condition trace the incidence of the condition to their tender age. The complications during childhood such as the use of Oral amoxicillin often predispose a child to epilepsy. Such conditions follow a person into their childhood. In most cases, seizure patients who develop epilepsy tend to be associated with the use of antibiotics such as Oral amoxicillin when they were under the age of twelve. This has defined many seizure patients across their lifetime. The recommendation necessary is to ascertain the existence of predisposing conditions o seizure in children before administering Oral amoxicillin. Some of the risk factors include Renal Insufficiency: The dosage administered need to be ascertained about the renal function as well as the body weight of the child. This is regarded as one of the most common risks factors of antibiotic-related convulsions in children and even in older people (Gresser 2001). Age: age factor plays a significant role in determining drug metabolism as well as blood-brain barrier permeability especially in children. The dosage administered need to regard the age of the child. Any preexisting case of CNS disease needs to be checked before administering Oral amoxicillin to children. Some of the most common CNS diseases include intracranial mass, epilepsy, and meningitis. The child needs to be assessed of any of these conditions to present severing of the risk by administering Oral amoxicillin. Drug interaction needs to be checked or even cases of concomitant use of pro-convulsion drugs so as to prevent severing convulsion in children. Seizures can be managed and prevented from advancing into complication by the administration of benzodiazepines and barbiturates which are also regarded as first-line therapies for amoxicillin-related seizures (Varsano et al. 1997). Asthma Complications Asthma is deemed as one of the most common respiratory complications in children. Several factors predispose the condition due to the undeveloped nature of the respiratory organs in children. The most susceptible age brackets are those within the neonatal and the age of twelve. Several studies have eluded top chances of asthma complications resulting from the use of oral amoxicillin in children. Such studies have associated several cases of asthma patients to the use of amoxicillin in children in their tender ages. A greater percentage of asthma cases also results from children whose mothers used the amoxicillin medication during pregnancy period affirming the possibility of the drug getting fused into the fetus thereby resulting into asthma complications (Gresser 2001). Other studies, however, critique on these findings asserting the possibility of asthma resulting from bacterial infections which were further managed by the use of amoxicillin in children. This study is premised on the fact that most asthma patients are those who must have had bacterial infections at their tender ages thereby promoting the use of amoxicillin in children as an antibiotic. These studies are further buttressed by findings of several people who developed asthma at their tender ages without the use of any antibiotics. Studies reveal that this asthma is most common among children who are less those five years as compared to those above five years. Besides, the condition is prone to both girl child and a male child in an equal portion. This condition can stem from troubled breathing, shortness of breath or even a whizzing sound during breathing. The respiratory system becomes affected, blocked and inflamed among children who use oral amoxicillin Nevertheless, oral amoxicillin has higher chances of interfering with the respiratory organs in the developing children. The effects have a long term effect of causing asthma to a child which further becomes a life condition in an individual. Most studies have affirmed this concept and associated the influence of oral amoxicillin in contributing to asthma condition in children. The asthma cases develop into their childhood with the medication burned which results from the use of oral amoxicillin (Mandel et al. 1987). Severe Skin Rash Children are normally prone to skin rush especially those at the very early stages from neonatal. Skin rashes can occur due to several reasons such as bacterial infections. It is expected that the use of an antibiotic to treat an infection such as skin rashes yield positive results. However, oral amoxicillin has been found to present negative side effects by causing skin rashes in children. The tender nature of children’s’ skin is affected by the use of oral amoxicillin (Gresser 2001). The skin rash is usually severed among some children who use the drug. In these conditions, the skin can be seen to be having red itchy spots. Children who suffer from these side effects react by having constant itchy skin and spread of the red spots over the skin. Medics have argued that this side effect is widespread across White as compared to the Blacks. The differences in the tender nature of the skins are cited as one of the main reason explaining the side effects. Severe skin rash can also be witnessed as a result of the inner side effects of using oral amoxicillin. Whenever the internal organs fail to recognize and consequently react against the use of the particular drug, the condition is normally manifested on the outside. Therefore, the inner organs which tend to repel the use of oral amoxicillin because red and itchy spots on the skins of the patients using this kind of drug (Labenz et al. 1993). Age, gender and period of infection: the skin rashes are normally witnessed as an immediate side condition from the use of oral amoxicillin. For example, this condition results in three to four days among children. This, however, tend to differ in other children depending on the immunity status of a child. Studies reveal that the condition is quite common in the very young children such as those with three to six months. The condition tends to reduce as a child grows into later age. Besides, the gender factor contributes significantly to the manifestation of the use of oral amoxicillin in children. The girl child tends to be highly prone to the severe skin rashes as compared to the male child. Scantly medical evidence exists in regards to explaining the gender factor in relevance to this condition in children (Pedler & Bint 1985). Swollen feet (juvenile arthritis): The use of oral amoxicillin presents the condition of juvenile arthritis in many children. This kind of condition is presented by swollen feet. In some case, the swelling is witnessed in other body parts such as in hand and the tongue (Damoiseaux et al. 2000). The allergic reaction causes the swelling of the external organs which further present difficulty in walking or even using the tongue to taste and hands to hold . This condition is really common in children aged 3-7 years. Besides, it is witnessed similarly across all the gender. Juvenile Arthritis condition has been closely linked to the difficulty associated with respiratory processes in children affected by the use of oral amoxicillin. Blood tend to clot and the child experiences swollen legs that make mobility difficult. Studies have also associated this kind of arthritis to the allergic effect produced from the use of the drug in children. Severe juvenile arthritis tends to have an implication even in the old age. Most people who experience arthritis in their old age are those who must have had an experience with amoxicillin at their tender age which affects them in their adulthood (Dajani et al. 1994). Dental Fluorosis The teeth of young children are comparatively weaker as compared to the teeth of an older person. One of the components of the teeth referred to as the enamel layer develops progressively as a person develops. It is weaker and softer in young children as compared to older people. The enamel is the white protective layer in the tooth and is responsible for giving the tooth its color. This component develops with time. In the younger stages of development, the enamel component becomes easily eroded and affected by chemical substances such as fluoride found in water. Studies have also revealed that the use of oral amoxicillin is responsible for the erosion of the enamel layer in the teeth. There is a wide range of dental effects which result from the use of oral amoxicillin in children. One of the noticeable conditions is referred to as dental fluorosis. These dental effects are manifested in different forms. Once the enamel layer of the tooth is eroded, the inner components become susceptible to damage. Dental fluorosis occurs when the teeth are less developed due to damage of the enamel layer which is regarded as the protective layer in the process of tooth development. The developing teeth in children have weaker enamel component. Studies have revealed that children who use oral amoxicillin especially between the ages 3 to 6 months are susceptible to dental fluorosis. These cases have been seen to have a reducing pattern as the child grows partly explained by the developing nature of the enamel component (Sarrell et al. 2003). About 24% of children aged between one and twelve indicated signs of dental fluorosis in the research conducted in the US for the past three consistent years (Törün et al. 2005). Age and period of the condition: Dental fluorosis is manifested in the form of white specks or brown color on the teeth. It results in a period of about one year after continues use of the drug. The younger children aged below ten years are highly susceptible o this condition due to their weak enamel layer of the tooth. Conclusion Bacterial infections continue to remain as one of the disease categories affecting people in the modern world. Children stand as a more vulnerable group in the population. This, therefore, necessities the administration of oral amoxicillin as an example of antibiotic used to treat throat, ear and skin infections. However, the use of this drug presents several side effects as conditions or diseases among children aged below twelve years (Törün et al. 2005). The various side effects occur differently among the children. This study focused on some of the common conditions such asthma, juvenile arthritis, dental fluorosis and severe skin rash as some of the most common conditions and diseases from the use of oral amoxicillin in children. The study aimed at finding out some of the conditions developed by children after the use of oral amoxicillin and how such conditions or diseases affect them later in life. References Cunha, B. A. (2001). Antibiotic side effects. medical Clinics of north america, 85(1), 149-185. Dajani, A. S., Bawdon, R. E., & Berry, M. C. (1994). Oral amoxicillin as prophylaxis for endocarditis: what is the optimal dose?. 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Varsano, I., Volovitz, B., Horev, Z., Robinson, J., Laks, Y., Rosenbaum, I., ... & Amir, J. (1997). Intramuscular ceftriaxone compared with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate for treatment of acute otitis media in children. European journal of pediatrics, 156(11), 858-863. Read More