Unforeseeable health risks from improper use of drugs

Drug allergies can cause life-threatening reactions if not detected and treated promptly.

Drug allergies can cause life-threatening reactions if not detected and treated promptly.

The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases recently admitted a 67-year-old woman living in Hanoi with persistent high fever, rashes all over her body, and severe edema.

Severe drug allergies can cause dangerous complications such as anaphylactic shock, laryngeal edema, airway constriction, systemic edema... and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

The old woman was taken to the doctor by her family because of knee pain and was diagnosed with lower limb venous insufficiency. After examination, the doctor prescribed her five medications, including venous circulation support drugs, calcium, vitamin C, multivitamins, and cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, two days after starting the medication, she began to feel mild itching, and then the rash spread to her entire body from her legs to her face.

When the itching became more severe, she returned to the medical facility for a check-up and was prescribed additional anti-allergy medication. However, despite taking the anti-allergy medication, the symptoms did not improve, and she continued to have a high fever for 24 hours, with her body temperature ranging from 39°C to 40°C, causing her family to worry and decide to take her to the hospital.

At the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the old woman was admitted in a serious condition with a high fever that did not subside, a rash, and swelling all over her body. Her face was swollen to the point of being deformed, with swelling not only on her face but also on her lips, abdomen, legs, and back. Doctors immediately determined that this was a case of severe drug allergy, which could cause anaphylactic shock and damage to vital organs.

It is noteworthy that during the treatment, her liver enzyme index increased suddenly, up to 8 times higher than normal.

Continuous use of fever-reducing drugs for 4 days (every 5 hours) causes the liver to work too hard, leading to high liver enzymes. Doctors say that if not treated promptly, this condition can lead to acute liver failure and affect other organs in the body.

According to Dr. Tran Hai Ninh, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, drug allergies can cause life-threatening reactions if not detected and treated promptly.

"Severe drug allergies can cause dangerous complications such as anaphylactic shock, laryngeal edema, airway constriction, systemic edema... and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly," Dr. Ninh warned.

In Ms. NTC’s case, if not treated promptly, elevated liver enzymes can lead to acute liver failure, affecting other organs such as the kidneys, heart and digestive system. In addition, allergic symptoms such as rash and edema can seriously affect the patient’s quality of life.

Dr. Tran Hai Ninh emphasized that although doctors have prescribed medication, patients still need to closely monitor their body's reactions after starting to use the medication.

If there are any unusual signs such as rash, fever, difficulty breathing, swelling, the patient should stop taking the medicine immediately and go to a medical facility for timely treatment. Do not arbitrarily change the dosage or prolong the use of fever-reducing medicine without a doctor's instructions.

Doctors also recommend that when there are signs of suspected drug allergy such as difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, rash, hives, blisters, patients should immediately stop using the medication and go to the hospital for timely examination and treatment.

One of the important factors causing severe drug allergies is the arbitrary use of drugs without a doctor's instructions.

The habit of arbitrarily using painkillers, fever reducers or drugs of unknown origin can make the disease worse. This is especially dangerous when the patient is not monitored by medical professionals and is not advised about possible side effects.

To reduce the risk of drug allergies, doctors recommend that people do not use drugs on their own when they are sick. It is very important to strictly follow the treatment regimen and only use drugs when prescribed by a doctor. If there are any unusual signs during the use of drugs, patients should quickly go to a medical facility for timely treatment.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/nguy-co-suc-khoe-khon-luong-tu-viec-su-dung-thuoc-khong-dung-cach-d253768.html