Stating that antibiotics, which are predicted to have an additional cost of 100 trillion dollars to the economy all over the world, seriously harm human health in misuse, Sanmak said, “Antibiotics are chemicals that should be bought and used only for harmful pathogens and only with a doctor’s prescription. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is common in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. Antibiotics are actually not that old in human life. In 1928, penicillin was first discovered by Alexander Fleming and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for being a great discovery. Since then, nearly 100 antibiotics have been discovered. However, due to the unnecessary use of many antibiotics until today, bacteria have developed resistance. Resistance development is high in our region due to unnecessary use. Some of our patients even tell our family physicians that they want to use antibiotics persistently. For this reason, its use is high in our region,” he said.
ANTIBIOTIC IS NOT A FEVER REDUCER!
Emphasizing that antibiotics do not have antipyretic and analgesic properties, Sanmak said, “It is only effective in bacteria. For example, it has no effect if the child has a cold or has a cold. Mothers only use antibiotics unnecessarily. They make it more difficult to treat in the next illness of their child if it is a bacterial disease. For this reason, antibiotics should not be used without the necessary examination and necessary tests.
Mentioning that antibiotics are currently only given with a doctor’s prescription in Turkey, Sanmak said, “When the child or adult has the first fever, unfinished antibiotics or antibiotics that have not been used before can be used at home. It is necessary not to leave the antibiotic unfinished at first. It needs to be used fully. Antibiotics are only useful when the right antibiotic is used in the right dose, at the right time, and for the right bacteria. Their use should be with the advice and prescription of an expert. If we do not do this, we harm ourselves first,” he said.
INTRODUCTION FLORA IS IMPROVED BY MISUSE
Emphasizing the importance of beneficial bacteria in the human body, such as the heart, liver and other organs, Sanmak continued his words as follows:
“With improper use, we disrupt our intestinal flora. We actually live in beneficial bacteria in our own bodies. Beneficial bacteria are considered our organs such as liver and lungs in our body. We harm them. Just as we should not consume anything harmful for our heart, the unnecessary use of antibiotics harms these organs and beneficial bacteria. What are the results? First of all, it can cause intestinal problems and diarrhea in the short term. In the long run, it causes diseases such as asthma, diabetes and obesity. It is even claimed to cause cancer at times. That’s why we have to use it.”
MAINTAINING THE BALANCE IS IMPORTANT
Referring to the unnecessary use of antibiotics or what needs to be done to protect the beneficial bacteria when it is needed, Sanmak said, “First of all, there is a balance in our system, we call it the microbiota. Microbiota is a balance between humans and bacteria. In order to maintain this balance, first of all, we must not use unnecessary antibiotics. But then we have probiotic foods if we use it. We can use foods such as yogurt. We can relax our intestinal systems by consuming plenty of green foods. This way we can maintain this balance. Here, however, the critical point is the unnecessary use of antibiotics. This can be a psychological effect. For example, people feel relieved when they use antibiotics when they feel sick. Unfortunately, this has no effect other than its psychological effect. Certainly, these antibiotics are not useful except for bacterial infections.”