Therapeutic Uses And Side Effects Of Penicillins

Therapeutic Uses And Side Effects Of Penicillins

Write Penicillins Therapeutic Uses And Side Effects.
Answer:

Penicillins Therapeutic Uses

• Dental infections: Parenteral penicillin remains effective in the majority of common infections encountered in dentistry, particularly those arising as a sequela of carious lesions and are caused by both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria such as Streptococci, Peptostreptococci, Eubacterium, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium.
  • At ordinary doses, it can be used for periodontal abscess, periapical abscess, pericoronitis, acute suppurative pulpitis, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), oral cellulitis, etc. Penicillin can also be employed prophylactically to cover dental procedures in predisposed patients.
• General medicinal uses: Other medical conditions treated with penicillin G are:
  • Streptococcal infections: Pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, etc. For bacterial endocarditis caused by viridian streptococci, high doses are required in combination with gentamicin.
  • Pneumococcal infections (pneumonia, meningitis) occur only if the infecting strain is found to be sensitive to penicillins.
  • Meningococcal meningitis and other infections.
  • Gonorrhea is caused by non-penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhea, etc. that are still sensitive to penicillins.
  • Syphilis: Benzathine penicillin is the drug of choice for all stages because T. pallidum has not developed penicillin resistance.
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, and other rare infections like gas gangrene, anthrax, and actinomycosis.

Adverse Effects Of Penicillin

Local Irritancy and Direct Toxicity

• Pain at the IM injection site, nausea on oral ingestion, and thrombophlebitis of the injected vein are dose-related expressions of irritancy.
• Toxicity to the brain may be manifested as mental confusion, muscular twitching, convulsions, and coma.

Penicillins Hypersensitivity

• These reactions are the major problem in the use of penicillins. Individuals with an allergic diathesis are more prone to develop penicillin reactions.
• Frequent manifestations of penicillin allergy are rash, itching, urticaria, and fever.
• Wheezing, angioneurotic edema, serum sickness, and exfoliative dermatitis are less common.
• Anaphylaxis is rare but may be fatal.

Penicillins Superinfections

They are rare with penicillin G because of their narrow spectrum.

Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction

Penicillin injected in syphilitic patients, mostly secondary syphilis, may produce shivering, fever, myalgia, exacerbation of lesions, and vascular collapse.