Final answer:
Prolonged use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials can cause superinfection, leading to gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, which might aggravate existing lung diseases and contribute to severe health complications, including fatalities in the most extreme cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prolonged use of certain drugs can lead to significant health concerns, including an increased risk for superinfection and secondary infections. These effects are particularly pronounced with long-term, broad-spectrum antimicrobial use, which may disturb the balance of normal microbiota, allowing opportunistic pathogens to cause gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.
When respiratory diseases are aggravated by medication, sufferers may experience a range of symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and runny nose, potentially leading to increased medication use, hospital admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and even premature mortality. Specifically, these drugs can decrease lung function and exacerbate conditions like asthma and other lung diseases, thus impacting an individual's overall health and well-being.
Furthermore, symptoms like aches, headaches, nausea, lethargy, diarrhea or constipation, and possible rash may develop in affected individuals. In extreme cases, such as with the formation of aspergillomas, severe pneumonia, and pulmonary or brain hemorrhages can be fatal. It is essential for individuals on long-term antimicrobial therapy to be monitored closely to manage these risks effectively.