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Antibiotics for acne treatment increase the risk of developing angina
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
According to a new study, young people who take oral antibiotics to treat acne are more likely to develop angina.
Scientists argue that prolonged use of antibiotics can change the balance of bacteria in the throat and increase the risk of developing resistant strains of bacteria in the body.
"Young people who take antibiotics are more prone to upper respiratory infections, but we do not know why," said study author David Margolis, of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, USA).
He noted that people who take antibiotics to treat acne are usually young and healthy, and can drink them for several months or even years in a row - therefore it is very important to be aware of any possible consequences of their use.
The research team does not yet see additional risks of resistance to antibiotics for the treatment of acne, the most common of which are tetracyclines.
Scientists have conducted two different studies, which involved students and graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania.
In the first, they examined a group of 266 students for their acne, and whether they regularly use oral antibiotics. They also asked students if they had had angina shortly before.
Ten out of fifteen students who took oral antibiotics to treat acne reported a recent sore throat.
In the second study, researchers examined about 600 students during the school year. They also recorded episodes of sore throat associated with the use of antibiotics.
More than 11% of students taking oral antibiotics for acne treatment visited the doctor due to sore throat, compared to 3% of students who did not take medication. Students using local antibiotics, lotions and ointments for the treatment of acne, did not have additional risks.
The researchers could not connect the development of angina with a certain type of bacteria - only some of the students gave a positive result on Streptococcus. Despite this, scientists said that people taking antibiotics should remember that we always need to weigh risks and benefits.
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