Do antibiotics cause diarrhea because of "bad bacteria?"

Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria causing infections, but they can also affect the good bacteria in your gut. When this happens, it can lead to diarrhea.

How It Happens:

1. Good vs. Bad Bacteria: Your gut is home to many bacteria, both good and bad. Antibiotics can kill off some of the good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy.
2. Growth of Bad Bacteria: With fewer good bacteria, bad bacteria like Clostridium difficile can grow more easily. This can cause diarrhea.

Other Bacteria:

• Besides Clostridium difficile, other bacteria might also cause diarrhea when the balance in the gut is upset.

In summary, while antibiotics are important for treating infections, they can sometimes cause diarrhea by disturbing the natural balance of bacteria in the gut.