Question:
From America OnLine:
I have heard that penicillin derivatives such as amoxicillin if given to children under two or one year can give diabetes later in life. Is this true? How many times during a year can a child get penicillin with no risk?
Answer:
There is no evidence that penicillin or its derivatives trigger
the immunological process that ultimately destroys the beta cells in the
islets. What may occur, though, is that the stress of the infection(s), for
which the penicillin is given, may hasten destruction of the insulin
producing cells to the point that exogenous insulin is needed. There have
been a number of conditions where penicillin was given prophylactically
for months or even years; but the other side of that coin has been the
development of penicillin resistant strains of bacteria. Nowadays there
are many alternative antibiotics to use.
DO'B
Original posting 18 Feb 97
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