British Dental Association raises concerns over availability of online antibiotics

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The British Dental Association has raised concerns over the availability of online antibiotics. Following reports in the daily newspapers, the BDA has described online prescriptions for antibiotics as “indefensible.”

A BDA statement claimed that it was incredibly dangerous for patients to access antibiotics online, not just because they are able to get hold of the medication without the need to see a dentist or doctor, but also because resistant to antibiotics is an increasingly worrying issue.

An investigation by reporters from The Sunday Mirror newspaper revealed that it took a journalist just 3 minutes to order antibiotics online. The reporter was granted permission to access the drugs after filling out an online form linked to symptoms of cystitis.

Russ Ladwa, chair of the association’s Health and Science Committee, warned that AMR (antimicrobial resistance) poses a serious risk to the future of healthcare. He added that this threat requires a “change of gear” from healthcare professionals, ministers and patients.

The BDA has suggested that it’s dangerous for patients to head online when they have a dental infection. There’s an assumption that antibiotics are a universal cure for infections, but in most cases, a dental abscess will be treated using surgical treatment and painkillers. He accused some online pharmacies of doling out antibiotics “like smarties”, which conveys the wrong message to patients who have dental issues.

The advice from experts is always to seek advice from a dentist if you have signs of a dental infection or you have dental symptoms, which are getting worse.

 

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