Secondary adverse effects

 

Secondary adverse effects

·         Adverse effects are undesirable or unintended consequence of drug administration

·         In most cases, adverse effects are due to direct effects of drugs

·         In few cases, adverse effects can occur due to indirect effects of drugs

·         For example- tetracycline induced superinfection of gut

·         Explanation

·         Tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic which is given orally

·         However, prolonged use can kill normal intestinal flora

·         In absence of normal intestinal flora, oppurtunistic bacteria like Clostridium difficile can proliferate and spread in the gut.

·         This is known as superinfection or pseudomembranous enterocolitis. In this condition, there is severe inflammation of the large gut. The patient presents with diarrhoea, pain abdomen and fever.