Journal article
Fat, demented and stupid: An unrecognized legacy of pediatric urology?
Journal of pediatric urology, Vol.13(4), pp.341-344
08/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2017.04.027
PMID: 28688993
Abstract
The human body is an unfathomably intricate structure consisting of many connected and intertwined systems. This makes it impossible for therapeutic interventions to selectively target only one physiologic system without some impact or side effects on all the other systems. The resiliency of the human body modifies and disguises side effects, some of which may be undetectable for years and not apparent without scientific investigation.
Pediatric urologists employ relatively few medications for the common conditions they treat and in general these consist of antibiotics, anticholinergics, and anesthetics. Although harm from early side effects is well recognized, recent medical literature suggests there may be other side effects of these common interventions that aren't as well recognized.
Antibiotics have been added to livestock feed as growth promoters for three-quarters of a century. Antibiotics alter the microbiota of the intestinal tract and these alterations have been demonstrated to impact growth, metabolism, and the risk of obesity in animals and humans. To date, the long-term impact of daily antibiotic prophylaxis in children with such pediatric urology conditions as vesicoureteral reflux or prenatal hydronephrosis have not been published. Similarly, there are no studies assessing long-term effects of anticholinergic use on cognition in children despite research demonstrating an increased risk of dementia in adults using anticholinergics. Research in animals and children recently led the FDA to issue a warning regarding the risk of lengthy use of general anesthesia on cognitive development in children.
This review raises the possibility that antibiotics in children may alter growth, anticholinergics may increase their risk of dementia later in life, and anesthetics may impair their cognitive development. The possibility of such an unrecognized legacy from current therapeutic interventions should give all physicians, including pediatric urologists, pause for consideration before electing any intervention, no matter how routine or currently well accepted.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Fat, demented and stupid: An unrecognized legacy of pediatric urology?
- Creators
- Christopher S Cooper - Department of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of pediatric urology, Vol.13(4), pp.341-344
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jpurol.2017.04.027
- PMID
- 28688993
- ISSN
- 1477-5131
- eISSN
- 1873-4898
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2017
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Urology; Medicine Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984051780402771
Metrics
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