What are the Dangers of Overuse of Antibiotics?

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The issue of overuse of antibiotics has raised it’s head again today. “Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill,” according to Director General Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Health Organisation. She added that, “”Some sophisticated interventions, like hip replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapy, and care of preterm infants, would become far more difficult or even too dangerous to undertake,” she warned.” Antibiotics were first used in the 1940s and are no doubt one of the biggest advances in medicine with regard to helping heal infections. However the over-prescription of the pills  has resulted in the development of resistant bacteria- bacteria which used to be treatable with antibiotics but no longer respond to them. There’s also the risk of side-effects (especially on children) to consider which include stomach upset, diarrhea and even possible allergic reactions.