Who is Looking After Our Kid's
CHAPTER 10
Overuse of Antibiotics and the Need for Alternatives
In future times medical historians may write the following epitaph about the field of antibiotic therapy "died of overuse."
Articles in popular news magazines based on interviews with authorities at leading medical centers quote estimates that over half of antibiotic use in the United States is unnecessary and inappropriate. (1-2)
There are good reasons for concern about the present level of antibiotic usage.
1. Suppression of the immune system by antibiotics:
Even a cursory search of medical literature concerning the immune-suppressant effects of antibiotics will reveal a flow of published scientific studies in the past several decades showing depression of various arms of the immune system by antibiotics. One clinical report illustrating this effect involved a study of 460 children with middle-ear infections with fluid build-up (secretory otitis media) in which a portion of the children were treated with the antibiotic, Amoxicillin. and a portion were treated with an inactive placebo. According to the authors, children treated with Amoxicillin. were two to six times more likely to have another ear infection within the next six weeks, presumably the result of immunosuppression caused by the antibiotic. (3) Furthermore, children treated with the placebo were equally likely to be well four weeks later. Because of this and similar studies, 1994 guidelines for treating children with secretory otitis media call for a period of observation of three or four months rather than immediate antibiotic therapy. (4)
2. Overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria, yeast and mold:
The healthy intestinal tract might aptly be compared with a garden. Beneficial microorganisms (bacteria) predominate, many of which are essential to life and health. Potentially harmful (pathogenic) microorganisms such as Staphylococcus, Clostridium, and yeast forms could be compared with weeds of a garden. These are kept in check as long as the beneficial bacteria flourish. However, when antibiotics are given, there may be a major shift in balance with a killing out of large numbers of the beneficial bacteria. This, in turn, potentially allows overgrowth of the pathogens. Although the adverse effects may not be immediately apparent, there may be a long-term deterioration of health with increased illness and allergies. (5-10)
In addition, it should be noted that the healthful bacteria produce lactic acid, which tends to inhibit growth of harmful yeast and fungi. When the source of lactic acid is reduced by killing off of the beneficial bacteria by antibiotics, the yeast and mold may proliferate. This can result in various forms of ill health.
3. Promotion of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms:
There is a steadily growing incidence of antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases, promoted not only by medical usage of antibiotics but also by their use in the food industry. (1-2) Infections such as pneumonia, septicemia (blood poisoning), gonorrhea, syphilis, tuberculosis, and Staphylococcus are becoming increasing difficult to treat and, sometimes, are not in reach of the strongest medications. If the process continues several more decades, it is possible that many common infections of today will be beyond reach of even the strongest antibiotics.
A practical plan:
Antibiotics should be avoided in uncomplicated viral infections such as colds and influenza (viruses are immune to the effects of antibiotics). The same should hold for uncomplicated secretory otitis media in children. If time and effort are taken to use some of the "natural" approaches outlined below. Complications can be avoided in a majority of instances. However, if potentially serious complications do ensue and antibiotics become necessary, then there should be no stint in the dosage. Take the full course recommended by your doctor; anything else will favor the emergence of drug-resistant germs. When in doubt concerning the seriousness of an infection, consult your physician.
Two measures will help to counteract the adverse effects of antibiotics, should these become necessary
1. Take some commercial preparation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidis, healthful bacteria normally present in the digestive tract, to replace those killed by the antibiotic. It may be started before completion of the course of antibiotics and continued possibly several weeks afterwards.
2. Take a serving of plain, unflavored yogurt daily. Yogurt contains lactic acid, which will help to keep the pathogens in check. (An exception for the use of yogurt is noted below).
Eat lightly
Heavy foods, especially rich desserts, tend to burden the immune system, contribute to inflammation, and create mucus. If there is a buildup of mucus in the sinuses, middle ear, or chest, avoid milk products, including yogurt. Milk tends to promote mucus production in the body. (11) According to folk tradition, chicken soup may contain biological ingredients that reduce the body's inflammation response. Adding garlic, which also has anti-inflammatory properties, may add to this response.
"Natural" remedies should be used at the earliest sign of a cold or influenza. Although many natural approaches to healing have prompted a surprising amount of credible scientific research, it is true that they are seldom favored by the same level of scientific research required for pharmaceuticals by US laws. For this reason, natural healing and folk medicine are commonly referred to as unscientific. This depends on the point of view. There is another frame of reference, that of common experience and observation. A good rule is that if an approach in folk medicine has survived two or more generations in two or more societies, it has survived the test of time, which may be as high a level of scientific evaluation as the favored double-blind study of today.
Finally, get plenty of rest when ill. Few things will lower the resistance quicker than inadequate rest and sleep.
Natural remedies from the lore of folk medicine for colds and influenza.
As suggested by Julian Whitaker, MD, slice one or two cloves of garlic and blend them with 8 oz of orange or grapefruit juice with a bit of lemon. Drink two glasses between meals, or one glass as a substitute for a meal. Clinical studies have shown that garlic possesses both antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- Drink several glasses of spring water daily in addition to the fruit juice.
- Take about 1,000 mg vitamin C per waking hour. Cut back if it causes diarrhea. Reduce doses in children proportionate to weight, such as half dose for a 75-pound child, quarter dose for a 40 pound child, and so on.
- Take zinc lozenges about four times daily for about a week. Zinc enhances the immune system and has antiviral activity. Do not take longer than a week because dosage over longer periods may suppress the immune system.
- Take medicinal herbs such as echinacea, myrrh, and/or goldenseal, all of which enhance the immune system. Doses should be one dropper full of the tincture or one capsule of powdered form four times daily, continued 7 to 10 days. If continued for prolonged periods, they lose their effectiveness. Reduce children's doses in proportion to their weights.
- For upset stomach: Ginger and/or camomile tea.
- For persistent cough: Elecampane tea.
- For diarrhea: Goldenseal as tea, tincture, or capsule.
- For fluid buildup in the middle ear with mild inflammation: Ear drops containing mullein oil and garlic.
- For eye inflammation: Eyebright tea.
- For sore throats: Gargle with hydrogen peroxide (available from drug stores) mixed half and half with water.
Once again, it should be emphasized that these remedies are recommended for minor viral infections in the absence of potentially serious bacterial complications. For children, parents are urged to use equal portions of observation, common sense, and intuition to judge when medical intervention is required and they need to call the doctor. However, if these simple though possibly time-consuming measures are followed, experience has shown that the incidence of complications from viral infections will be greatly reduced, thereby reducing the need for antibiotics.
Future trends:
As a straw-in-the-wind for future trends, a nine month survey begun in 1994 of nearly 700 children, showed a disturbing link between developmental delays in children and antibiotics usage. (12)
The survey, was conducted by the Developmental Delay Registry, of their multi-national database of 800 families, most of which have children with developmental delays. It found.that children who had taken more than 20 cycles of antibiotics in their lifetime were over 50% more likely to suffer developmental delays than children taking fewer than three cycles of antibiotics.
The survey's other findings include:
- Nearly 75% of the delayed children were reported to be developing normally in their first year of life.
- Children who took 20 cycles of antibiotics were twice as likely to have ear tube infections than children taking fewer than three cycles of antibiotics.
- Children who took 20 cycles of antibiotics were nearly four times more likely to have had negative reactions to immunizations.
These findings are, at best, preliminary and should be interpreted with caution. Their importance is that they may be among the early indications of a historic change in direction in health and medical research.
References
1. Freedman DH. Good drugs, dangerous doses. Reader's Digest. May 1994: 142- 144.
2. Begley S. The end of antibiotics. Newsweek. March 28, 1994:47- 52.
3. Cantekin El, et al. JAMA. 1991;266:3309.
4. Kritz F. Otitis approach conservative. Medical Tribune. Aug 11, 1994: 1.
5. Melby K, Midvedt T. Effects of some antibacterial agents on phagocytosis of 33-P-labeled Escherichia coli by human polymorphonuclear cells. Acta Pathol Microhiol. Scandinavian Section B.88 1980; 103- 106.
6. Seelig MJ. Role of antibiotic in the pathogenesis of Candida infections. Am J Med. 1996;40:887-917.
7. Seelig MJ. The rationale for preventing antibacterial induced fungal overgrowth. Medical Times. 1968;9(7): 689-710.
8. Trowbridge IP. The Yeast Syndrome. New York, NY Bantam Books; 1986:42-54.
9. Voiculescu C, et al. Experimental study of antibiotic induced immunosuppression in mice. Comp Immune Microbiol Infect Dis. 1983;6(4) 291-299.
10. Seelig Ml. Mechanisms by which antibiotics increase the incidence and severity of candidiasis and alter the immunological defenses. Bacteriol Rev. 1968;30(2).
11. Collins AM, et al. Bovine milk, including pasteurized milk, contains antibodies directed against allergens of clinical importance to man. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immuno. 1991 ;96:362- 367.
12. Developmental Delay Registry (DDR) is located at PO Box 12394, Silver Spring MD 20908. (301) 924-3060. Fax: (301) 654-0557
Recommended reading
lappe M. When Antibiotics Fail: Restoring the Ecology of the Body. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books; 1986.
Schmidt MA. Childhood Ear Infections: What Every Parent and Physician Should Know about Prevention, Home Care, and Alternate Treatment. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.1990
Schmidt MA, Smith LH, Sehnert KW. Beyond Antibiotics: Healthier Options for Families. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books; 1993.