The question of whether "Enterofuril" is an antibiotic is primarily of concern to parents. Dysbacteriosis, allergies, immune suppression are the side effects that this class of drugs is famous for. Moms and dads are afraid to give the antibiotic "Enterofuril" to children, although it is an effective medicine against intestinal infections.
Antibiotic is the enemy of life
This is the Greek translation of this word: a drug that kills. Disease is the body's war against pathogenic bacteria. Antibiotics are a mercenary army sent to help the immune system when it fails to cope with an infection.
Determining the question of whether "Enterofuril" is an antibiotic or not, let's see where the army of antibiotics comes from, how it fights against infectious agents, what traces it leaves in the body. Then it will become clearer whether "Enterofuril" belongs to the units of this army.
Such a different origin
- The parents of antibiotics are living organisms: fungi, bacteria, microbes. In the course of the struggle for existence, they produce substances capable of destroying rivals in the living space in which they live. People have learned to isolate these substances and create drugs that kill pathogenic fauna.
- The answer to the question of whether "Enterofuril" is an antibiotic or not, gives its origin. He has no natural parents. This drug was synthesized in a chemical laboratory, is a derivative of 5-nitrofuran, in the chain of which there are two active elements: the nitro group O2N and a free radical capable of various compounds.
Myriads of beneficial microbes are propagated in special nutrient media in order to obtain medicine from them.
First conclusion: by origin "Enterofuril" does not apply to antibiotics. This will be confirmed by any doctor and pharmacologist if you contact them with this question.
Main action: suppress and kill
Comparison of therapeutic action can also clarify the problem. "Enterofuril" - antibiotic or not?
- The action of antibiotics is selective, they only kill their rivals in life - bacteria and microbes. Only through the cell walls of their antagonists are they able to penetrate, disrupt the nucleus, suppress reproduction, and generally destroy. The membranes of the cells of our body are impenetrable for them, fungi, viruses, Giardia in the liver are not of interest to them.
- The mechanism of action of "Enterofuril", as well asof all drugs of the nitrofuran group, is associated with the presence in them of the nitro group O2N. microbes. The walls of their cells are broken, pathogens suffocate and die.
Paired with the nitro group, the radicals that make up the nitrofuran molecule act: they bind nucleic acids, entering into a stable connection with them, the microbial cell loses its ability to reproduce.
A huge number of pathogens that live in the intestines, "Enterofuril" is able to bind and deprive of breath. These are staphylococci, streptococci, salmonella, shigella, klebsiella, cholera bacilli; lamblia in the liver. Viruses, botulinum bacillus and worms escape from nitrofurans.
Are antibiotics and antiseptics the same thing?
Antibiotics and nitrofuran preparations ("Enterofuril" among them) inhibit the reproduction of pathogenic organisms and kill them. This means that they have a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. Substances with this effect are called antiseptics.
People for whom the words "antibiotic" and "antiseptic" are synonymous may consider that "Enterofuril" is an antibiotic. The specialist is clear: the two classes of these drugs have different mechanisms and spectrum of action. Against "their" enemies, antibiotics are more effective than "Enterofuril", and he, in histurns, neutralizes more pathogenic microbes.
Treat but not maim
The last dot over the i in the question of whether "Enterofuril" is an antibiotic or not, puts the nature of the side effects that these drugs have.
A mercenary army of antibiotics leaves a painful trail:
- Together with pathogens, it kills beneficial bacteria, pathogenic fungi develop rapidly, resulting in dysbacteriosis.
- Having penetrated into the blood, antibiotics reach the liver, which recognizes them as poisons and begins a grueling struggle with them. The products of this struggle poison the liver itself, its recovery takes weeks and months after the disease.
- The production of interferon by the liver, the main hormone of the immune system, is difficult, the body's resistance weakens, it refuses to fight the infection, giving the initiative to the alien army of antibiotics.
- If the immune system does not want to yield to drugs from outside, drug rejection occurs, i.e. allergy.
- Finally, the pathogenic bacteria themselves quickly change and become insensitive to the action of antibiotics.
2. "Enterofuril" behaves in the body exactly the opposite in comparison with antibiotics.
- Attacking a much larger number of pathogenic microbes, it is absolutely harmless to beneficial microorganisms - saprophytes, which are orderlies and inhibit the development of fungi and putrefactive bacteria in the intestines.
- In the blood "Enterofuril" is notpenetrates, does not have any negative effect on the liver and all other body systems. Having done its job, it is excreted from the intestines with feces, taking pathogenic fauna.
- This drug not only does not suppress the immune system, it even increases resistance to infection; neutralizes toxins secreted by pathogenic microbes; captures those bacteria that survived the fight against antibiotics. Specialists, knowing this, often prescribe Enterofuril after antibiotics.
- Sometimes, but very rarely, people are allergic to this drug.
It is important to apply correctly
Until the etiology of the intestinal disorder is clarified, the doctor prescribes before applying the antibiotic, Enterofuril. Instructions for use has its own characteristics:
- Children under 6 years of age should take this drug as a suspension.
- It is very important to take the medicine at regular intervals to ensure its constant concentration in the intestines and not to give pathogenic bacteria a respite.
- It is not recommended to take "Enterofuril" simultaneously with other means.
- Treatment lasts no longer than a week.
Now we see that the side effects of "Enterofuril" are minimal. Even such categories of patients as pregnant women, nursing mothers and small children can take it.
