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Bites - human and animal - Management
Tetracyclines
- Tetracyclines should not be used in in children under 12 years of age, as they are deposited in the teeth and bones of the developing child.
- Tetracyclines may cause oral contraceptives to fail and women should be advised to use additional contraception during the course and for at least 7 days afterwards. If the 7 days run beyond the end of the packet, a new packet should be started without a break, omitting any of the inactive tablets [Baxter, 2006].
- Benign intracranial hypertension is a rare but important adverse effect of tetracyclines. If a person taking a tetracycline develops headache and visual disturbances, the tetracycline should be stopped.
- Doxycycline may cause photosensitivity reactions: advise the person to avoid exposure to direct sunlight or to sunlamps.
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