New research from the US suggests that oral antibiotics used to treat acne in university students may be associated with an increased risk of sore throats.

The research, published online in the journal Archives of Dermatology, found two thirds of students taking oral antibiotics for their acne reported a sore throat in the last month compared to just one third of students with acne who were not taking antibiotics.

In a second study, the researchers tracked antibiotic use and health visits in almost 600 students over an academic year.

They found about 11 percent of the students taking oral antibiotics for acne also visited a doctor for a sore throat, compared to only about three percent of those not taking the oral acne medications.

Students using topical antibiotics for acne such as lotions and creams had no extra risk of sore throat symptoms.

The researchers were not able to show that antibiotic use was leading to overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria as few students were found to be colonised with group A streptococcus, one of the bacteria commonly associated with sore throats.

They said it was important to evaluate any health risks associated with long-term use of antibiotics, especially in otherwise healthy, young people.

Given sore throats are usually mild and self limiting conditions, it was suggested that young people would probably prefer to get their acne under control than worry about an occasional sore throat.

Commenting on the study, All About Acne team member Dr Parker Magin said more evidence was required in order to be confident of an association between oral antibiotics and sore throats.

Reference: Archives of Dermatology, online November 21, 2011.