Angela Onwuzoo While it is well-known that pregnancy induces anatomical and physiological changes increasing women’s susceptibility to urinary tract infections, physicians warn of the dangers of using antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. The specialists in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology said women should always remember that not all medicines are safe to use during pregnancy including over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The maternal health experts said certain medicines including antibiotics taken during pregnancy can increase the risk for birth defects, pregnancy loss, prematurity, infant death, or developmental disabilities.
The World Health Organisation recently warned that the misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050. It cited incorrect prescription as a “cause for concern,” adding that in all the 14 countries, a third of the roughly 8,200 people surveyed had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription. The global health body revealed that in some countries, over 40 per cent of antibiotics were used without medical advice.
The WHO also noted that there were severe gaps in people’s knowledge about antibiotics, meaning they could be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realising it. The physicians, who spoke during separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise expressed worry that most pregnant women take some type of medicine.
