‘Leptospirosis antibiotic not safe for pregnant women, kids’

MANILA, Philippines — An infectious disease expert warned the public yesterday that while prophylaxis may help bring down leptospirosis cases in the country, antibiotics should not be given to pregnant women and children. 

In a health forum, Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Disease (PSMID) diplomate Daisy Tagarda said there are contra-indications in the use of Doxycycline for prophylaxis against leptospirosis infection.

Tagarda echoed the appeal of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III against self-medication using Doxycyline, an antibiotic preventing development of antimicrobial resistance. 

“What are the side effects that we have to watch out for? We need to educate the patients on what adverse reactions to expect, like stomach pain,” she said.

“The preventive antibiotic should be taken on a full stomach and with water because it could cause gastric irritability,” she added.

Tagarda said Doxyciline should not be given to pediatric patients because it could cause discoloration of the teeth. Instead, children could take amoxcillin and penicillin.