Doxycycline is an antibiotic drug that kills a wide, bizarre and wonderful range of bugs which are typically tough to treat with other antibiotics. These embrace micro organism and parasites that take up residence inside our cells (called “intracellular organisms”), making them hard for many antibiotics to reach.

Unlike many other antibiotics, doxycycline penetrates deep into our tissues and ends up inside our cells, the place it can kill these bugs. Examples of intracellular organisms susceptible to doxycycline embrace numerous “zoonotic infections” (infections that are spread from animals to people), chlamydia, legionella (the cause of legionnaire’s disease) and malaria.

Other vulnerable microorganisms embody “spirochaetes” (that can cause syphilis and Lyme disease) and the bacteria that cause acne, anthrax and cholera.

Doxycycline interferes with a microorganism’s ability to fabricate proteins – the “building blocks” of life. Protein manufacture occurs in a part of the cell called the “ribosome” and is fundamental to any organism’s survival.

The reason doxycycline kills micro organism and parasites, however not our own cells, is that ours have a distinct type of ribosome to those less complicated organisms.

Uses

Because doxycycline kills a wide range of bacteria that may infect the respiratory system, it is commonly prescribed for pneumonia and bronchitis. Additionally it is widely used for treating acne and infections of the urinary and genital systems.

It is usually taken orally as tablets or capsules but can even very occasionally be given as an intravenous injection.

Doxycycline continues to exert its effects for some time after being taken. This means it can be utilized not only as treatment, but in addition for prevention or “prophylaxis”.

Its most widespread use as prophylaxis is for vacationers and different travellers (equivalent to military personnel) going to tropical nations where it is used to protect primarily against malaria. It could additionally provide additional protection from widespread bacterial causes of diarrhoea.

To be effective in stopping infection, it must be taken once a day in the course of the time the person is at risk. Doxycycline is also active against a number of micro organism that could presumably be used as agents of “germ” warfare. This included, most notably, anthrax. So it could be used as prophylaxis in military or different populations considered at risk of bio-warfare or following launch of anthrax into the surroundings by terrorists.

Development

The development of doxycycline adopted the momentous discovery of penicillin, a natural compound produced by a sure type of mould.

This lead many pharmaceutical corporations to research the microbe-killing properties of a big number of different natural products, reminiscent of those produced by different microorganisms and plants, a process termed “bio-discovery”.

This unearthed natural compounds with anti-microbial activity and additional artificial modification improved these natural compounds.

Resistance

Like all antibiotics, doxycycline is susceptible to bugs that develop resistance. There is evidence this has already occurred in settings where the drug is widely used, such as treatment of acne.

This means its use may be curtailed or overtaken by various medicine for some conditions, now or within the future.

Side effects and reactions

Probably the most commonly reported side impact is inflammation of the oesophagus (meals pipe), inflicting heartburn. This can be quite disagreeable but is somewhat preventable by taking the treatment with plenty of water, while standing and well before going to bed.

“Photosensitivity” (heightened sensitivity to sunlight leading to being easily sunburnt) can also be frequent ( in up to 20% of individuals taking it). This is very problematic for travellers utilizing it as malaria prophylaxis in tropical countries.

Doxycycline should not be utilized in children or in pregnant women the place it can lead to permanent brown staining of enamel and produce other effects on foetal bone development.

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