Do antibiotics work with a weakened immune system?

Answer 1

Yes antibiotics do affect the immune system because they kill off the good bacteria as well as the bad ones that you want to fight off. This leaves your immune system exposed by having minimal good bacteria left to fight of things such as a cold , so try not to use antibiotics for things such as a cold as it will work down your immune system, also a cold is a virus which antibiotics don't kill .

Answer 2

It depends what type of infection it was that you had. Virus's wil not respond to antibiotic therapy, it is therefore quite pointless prescribing it in this instance, as Dr Frank says- 70% of GPs ignore NICE guidelines regarding antibiotic prescribing.

Antibiotics in the short term, generally will not do much harm- your body can quickly replenish any good bacteria lost, however long term antibiotic therapy can cause problems. Basically, over prescribing and longterm use of antibiotics will cause you to become resistant to certain bacteria.

It also destructs important bowel flora, which is beneficial. Wide-spectrum antibiotics are by far the worse for this. The intestine has a very delicate ecology in which certain bugs help digest food, produce certain vitamins, and maintain a balance of organisms that prevents harmful bacteria and yeasts from multiplying. Wide-spectrum antibiotics disturb this.

This can cause vitamin deficiencies, inflammation of the gut, malabsorption and development of food Allergies due to defects in intestinal function.

Most Doctors will argue that Antiobiotics will not weaken your immune system. Recent studies have shown that it can cause immune suppression- people who are treated with antibiotics have higher instances of repeat infections.

Antibiotics work by inhibiting some enzymatic processes of bacteria. This can also affect normal cells, this could explain why antibiotics in some cases appear to weaken the immune system.

Answer 3

no it doesnt im doing a level and i know this for a fact!