20 Critical Essay Topics on the Dangers of Antibiotics

20 Critical Essay Topics on the Dangers of Antibiotics How often have you been given a task to write a critical essay, only to find out that you don’t have the slightest idea of how to approach the task at hand? You seem to have everything you need at your disposal, but not a single thought comes to mind – does this situation look familiar? So, if you have to write an essay about antibiotics and possible dangers associated with their use and misuse, feel free to take one of the topics we’ve prepared for you: Short-Term and Long-Term Adverse Effects of Antibiotics Antibiotics and Their Role in Disturbing Natural Gut Microflora Antibiotics as the Primary Cause of Bacterial Drug Resistance Antibiotics and Their Influence on Increasing the Healthcare Costs Antibiotics and Their Side-Effects Do Antibiotics Increase the Risk of Allergy? Antibiotics and Their Influence on Human Immune System Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome Can Antibiotics Lead to Chronic Illnesses? Misuse and Overuse of Antibiotics The Use of Antibiotics in Agriculture and Possible Adverse Effects on Human Health Agricultural Use of Antibiotics and Its Influence on Drug Resistance of Bacteria Can Antibiotic Resistance Be Stopped? Antibiotic Resistance and Its Possible Ramifications for Human Civilization Antibiotics as a Possible Reasons of Excess Weight and Obesity Possible Ramifications of Prenatal Exposure to Antibiotics Cellular Damage Caused by Fluoroquinolone and Its Possible Repercussions Side Effects, Adverse Reactions and Allergies to Antibiotics The Dangers of Wrong Usage of Antibiotics Common Misconceptions about Antibiotics and Associated Health Risks Good topics, aren’t they? Among them, you will find anything you may wish for, from careful examination of specific aspects of the issue to ones aimed at generalized descriptions of the situation. And, if you still have problems deciding how to perform the task you were given, don’t forget to glance at the facts on the dangers of antibiotics. Moreover, there are tips on writing a critical essay that will assist you in a difficult situation. But now let’s check out the example of an essay written on one of these topics. A Sample Critical Essay on Short-Term and Long-Term Adverse Effects of Antibiotics The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 was one of the greatest and most important world-changing discoveries ever made by a human being – there is no doubt about that. This discovery has saved and continues to save the lives of millions who would have been swept away by bacterial infections. However, just like many other wonders of science, antibiotics come at a price. When we misuse or overuse them, the price is even greater, especially if it goes on for a long time. Antibiotics were never intended to be used in a way they are used today – to quickly kill off any ailment that makes our lives even the slightest bit uncomfortable. They initially were aimed at and were used to treat serious, life-threatening infections that would otherwise lead to death or impairment. However, their effectiveness and usefulness in treating all kinds of diseases made antibiotics a go-to solution for a wide range of conditions, including even something as trivial as a common cold. Ironically, although prescriptions for common cold are among the most widespread usages of antibiotics today, in most cases they don’t do anything to fight the actual disease – most upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and antibiotics are useless against them. Which doesn’t mean that they are harmless as well. Depending on the patient, the type of antibiotic, other medications and substances imbued by the patient and a myriad other factors, antibiotics may have all kinds of adverse effects, ranging from short-term, personal and annoying at best, to long-term, lethal and having a global importance. The most easily recognized adverse effect of antibiotics is the so-called drug resistance of bacteria. Although bacteria don’t mutate as fast as viruses, they still are fairly quick to develop resistances to drugs that kill them. Some strains of staph aureus, for example, have developed resistance to penicillin just four years after the drug started being mass-produced. As the bacteria grow more resistant, doctors have to use either more potent antibiotics or the older ones in greater doses, increasing their side-effects and toxicity for humans. Some â€Å"superbugs†, bacteria that are non-responsive to most known forms of treatment, already exist, and the prospect of the world in which antibiotics no longer work is a terrifying one indeed. But this apocalyptic image is not the only danger posed by antibiotics. There are many more immediate and personal problems that may be caused by them, ranging from relatively mild side-effects, such as excess weight and allergies, to much more serious ones, including psychiatric problems, cardiac attacks, tendon ruptures, a wide range of chronic illnesses caused by cellular damage and much, much more. Thus, when all is said and done, antibiotics still remain an incredibly useful (and in many instances – life-saving) invention. However, the way they are used today, be it in healthcare or in agriculture, is a way that is likely to cause the entire human race a great many problems in not so distant future – unless something is done quickly, and we start using them responsibly as soon as possible. Antibiotics are certainly not a quick fix to get rid of every little ailment that may befall us. References Andrews, K.T., G. Fisher, T.S. Skinner-Adams. â€Å"Drug Repurposing and Human Parasitic Protozoan Diseases.† International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance 4.2: 95-111. Print Meikle, James. â€Å"GPs Who Limit Use of Antibiotics Risk Worse Patient Ratings†. The Guardian. Dec. 7 2015 Parker-Pope, Tara. â€Å"Frequent Antibiotics May Make Children Fatter†. The New York Times. Oct. 21 2015 Siddique, Haroon. â€Å"Antibiotic Use if Food Fuels Resistance to Vital Drugs – Report†. The Guardian. Dec. 8 2015 Stone, Judy. â€Å"Common Antibiotics Cause Arrhythmias, Death and Everything Else†. Forbes. Nov. 9 2015 Strom, Stephanie. â€Å"Perdue Sharply Cut Antibiotic Use and Jabs at Its Rivals†. The New York Times. Jul. 31 2015 Tavernise, Sabrina. †White House Meeting Elicits Pledges to Reduce Antibiotic Use†. The New York Times. Jun. 2 2015