Antibiotic-Induced Diarrhoea Outside Healthcare Institutes

Antibiotic induced diarrhoea is a common side effect of antibiotic treatment also outside the healthcare institutions. Diarrhoea beginning with the first few doses is attributed to the irritant effect of the unabsorbed fraction of the antibiotic on the intestinal mucosa as well as to the disruption in normal intestinal flora. Frequency of such antibiotic associated diarrhoea in the community varies from report to report but is estimated to be as high as 70%.