Dangers of self-medication

Many patients put their trust in online doctors’ advice, arbitrarily buying medicine based on someone else’s prescription or their own prescription. This situation causes negative consequences for the health of the drug users and the community.

Doctors at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital examine a patient who suffered a stroke due to self-medication

Bring more disease into the body

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital received treatment for patient PNP (45 years old, living in Can Tho City) with rhinitis due to inappropriate medication use. Previously, patient P. often suffered from nasal congestion and bought nasal drops at the pharmacy to use, but due to long-term use without paying attention to the dosage, the mucosal tissues became edematous and degenerated, blocking the nasal cavity. Doctors performed surgery to remove excess mucosa in the nose, re-ventilating the nasal cavity. Dr. Ly Xuan Quang, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, said that due to the characteristics of otolaryngology, in addition to oral or injectable medications, topical medications such as sprays, inhalations, ointments, etc. are also commonly used. However, the use of medications in treatment in general follows the principles: correct medication, correct route of administration, correct dosage, and correct time.

Previously, Tu Du Hospital also received and performed emergency surgery on a patient with NTTM (20 years old, residing in Nam Dinh province) who suffered a stroke after self-aborting at home following the instructions of "Doctor Google". Ms. M. said that she had 2 children and both had cesarean sections. Because she did not have the conditions to go to the hospital to have the pregnancy resolved, Ms. M. searched online for information about abortion at home. After 2 weeks of self-abortion, seeing her health worsen, Ms. M. decided to go to Dong Nai General Hospital for emergency care and was initially diagnosed with sepsis, pelvic abscess, severe anemia, and suspected uterine rupture after a large out-of-hospital abortion. Ms. M. was given 2 units of blood, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and transferred to Tu Du Hospital.

Similarly, recently, the Dermatology Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City has also received many cases of complications after chemical peeling at home. Many people, when applying chemicals on their face, have experienced red skin, swelling, blisters, blisters, skin burns, etc., requiring active treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and cosmetic methods to restore the skin.

Take medication as prescribed by your doctor.

MSc. Nguyen Huu Tin, Department of Intensive Care, People's Hospital 115, said that in some situations, self-medication can potentially pose life-threatening risks. In many cases, after being cured by a doctor for a long time, the disease relapsed with symptoms quite similar to before, so patients arbitrarily used the old prescription; some people tried to buy medicine according to the prescription of acquaintances to use themselves. Even more alarming is the problem of self-medication through information on the internet when encountering health problems. "Many people search for information online, find cases similar to their symptoms, buy medicine according to the prescription online to use without going to the doctor. There have been many cases of patients arbitrarily using medicine, then having to be hospitalized, mild cases of skin irritation, skin rash, severe cases of fever, coma...", MSc. Nguyen Huu Tin shared.

According to Dr. Ly Xuan Quang, each body is different, no two people are the same, even those in the same family. A drug may be suitable for one person but may be dangerous for another. Patients need advice and prescriptions from doctors and pharmacists. In addition to the therapeutic effect, drugs can cause unwanted side effects. Doctors must consider the benefits and risks of drugs when prescribing. For children, it is even more important to pay attention to the dosage of drugs. Parents should not give their children drugs without a doctor's prescription. To avoid the risk of drug allergies, people should not use drugs on their own when they are sick, but should go to specialized medical facilities to be examined by a doctor and prescribed appropriate treatment, and at the same time comply with the treatment regimen.

Go online to learn how to cure cancer

According to Dr. Diep Bao Tuan, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, there is currently a lot of information about cancer on social networks. In addition to useful knowledge for patients from medical facilities, there is also word-of-mouth information about unorthodox treatment methods. Folk methods, word of mouth such as drinking papaya leaves, traditional medicine... have absolutely no scientific basis, are not beneficial for patients; many people with cancer do not seek treatment immediately, listening to instructions on the internet to use this leaf or that medicine, so it is not effective. By the time they return to the hospital, the disease is already in a very late stage, difficult to control.

THANH AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hiem-hoa-khi-tu-y-dung-thuoc-post761094.html