Health experts have been raising serious concerns in several studies about the increasing risks of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance means that disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and viruses develop the ability to neutralize the drugs meant to kill them. In this condition, the infection can be difficult and sometimes impossible to treat, which increases the risk of developing serious disease even in the case of mild infection. In a recent study, researchers have expressed serious concern about the ineffectiveness of medicines that protect children from common infections.
A study published in The Lancet journal has found that due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, many medicines given to treat common infections in children are no longer effective in large parts of the world, including India. In this situation, even mild infection can lead to serious disease. If antibiotics do not work, there is a risk of infection increasing in the body and even organ failure.
The effectiveness of antibiotics is decreasing
The team, led by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia, found that many antibiotics recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat childhood infections such as pneumonia, sepsis (bloodstream infection) and meningitis are now less than 50 percent effective. It is being proved. This is a big danger which can put children at risk of developing serious diseases.
Millions of deaths are occurring due to antibiotic resistance
Southeast Asia and the Pacific region are the most vulnerable to the diminishing effects of antibiotics, with millions of children dying unnecessarily each year due to antibiotic resistance, the researchers said in the study. WHO has even said that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
Among newborns, an estimated three million cases of sepsis occur globally each year, resulting in 570,000 (5.7 lakh) deaths. Many of these cases are due to the decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics, drugs effective for treating bacteria.
What did the study find?
Studies have found evidence that bacteria known to cause sepsis and meningitis in children are becoming resistant to antibiotics. The research shows that there is an urgent need to change global antibiotic guidelines given the threat of antibiotic resistance in AMR cases.
What do health experts say?
Lead author Dr. Phoebe Williams, from the University's School of Public Health and the Sydney Infectious Disease Institute, says cases of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are increasing in children around the world. Given its increasing dangers, there is a need to stop unnecessary use of antibiotics and update the existing antibiotics. We are moving towards a big danger, and considering its risks everyone needs to remain alert.
(PC: Freepik)
