Andrea was taking antibiotics for bronchitis. After a few days, she began to hav
ID: 50776 • Letter: A
Question
Andrea was taking antibiotics for bronchitis. After a few days, she began to have some bothersome symptoms. She had a white coating on her tongue that she could not remove even when she brushed her tongue and used Listerine. She also had white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge and itching.
(a) What do you think was the cause of Andrea’s white tongue and vaginal discharge? (4 pts.)
(b) What do antibiotics have to do with the above symptoms? (4 pts.)
(c) How can she avoid a repeat of this situation?
Explanation / Answer
a. Prolonged intake of antibiotics is the cause for Andrea's white tongue and vaginal discharge.
b. White tongue is due to the non selective killing of bacteria by the antibiotics, where it kills the normal microbial flora of humans which are beneficial. In case of white tongue beneficial vitamin such as vitamin b complex and c becomes unavailable due to death of flora in the body.
Vaginal discharge is due to vaginal yeast infection, this condition is also called as candida albicans. In these type of infection white, cottage cheese like discharge and itching occurs. Normally, yeast like to live in warm and moist environments. The yeast is prevented from multiplying by the acidic environment in vagina. Once the acidic balance of your vagina is changed (when the acid balance becomes too low), the yeast will grow and flourish. The change in acidic balance happens when we take antibiotics.
c. This situation can be avoided by taking health supplements and foods rich in beneficial bacteria's such as yogurt which will replace the normal microbial flora in humans.