Children given antibiotics are twice as likely to develop digestive problems, research shows. Those prescribed penicillin and similar medicines are more at risk from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s Disease.  Scientists believe the drugs may encourage harmful bacteria and other organisms to grow in the gut, which trigger the conditions. A research team looked at 580,000 children over an 8 year period and examined records of their prescriptions and medical history. The study, published in the journal ‘Gut’, showed that children prescribed at least one course of antibiotics by the time they were 4 were almost twice as likely to have developed IBS. They were also 3½ times more at risk of Crohn’s Disease. The researchers believe antibiotics destroy ‘good’ bacteria and other tiny organisms known collectively as ‘microflora’ which help protect the gut. Probably overall, children aged 3 to 4 who had been given antibiotics were 1.84 times more likely to be diagnosed with bowel disease than those never given the drugs. The risk of developing the illness increased by 12% every time the medicines were prescribed.”
Dr. G. Kassianos, a GP in Berkshire and spokesman for the Royal College of General Practitioners, said “We know already that prescribing antibiotics in the first year of life increases the risk of presenting with asthma in early childhood. This study gives us another warning for slightly older children.  What’s more, by quoting studies like this, we may find it easier to persuade parents of the need to avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.”  See original article in the Daily Mail, January 2011

“Homeopathy – an alternative to antibiotics? Antibiotics may provide symptomatic treatment, but often patients given these medical treatments tend to experience recurrent infections. By contrast homeopathic doctors have seen that many infections can be effectively helped by homeopathy and that can also strengthen the immune system. Homeopathic medicine has proven its effectiveness in medical conditions that in conventional practice are treated with antibiotics.  The conditions treated included sinusitis, both acute and chronic, bronchitis, middle ear infections and rhinopharyngitis.  The GPs using homeopathy had significantly better results in terms of clinical effectiveness and complications. However, it must be stressed that there is as yet no conclusive evidence that homeopathy can be used as an alternative to antibiotics. The growing number of positive outcomes from previous studies clearly indicated the need for further research in this area.”
See extracts from the original article by Dr. Toni Nicolai, President of the European Committee for Homeopathy.