Self-medication and its Consequences during & after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Global Health Problem

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infection that emerged from China in December 2019 and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Due to the airborne nature of its transmission, COVID-19 spread to the rest of the world rapidly. Thus, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This paper evaluated the factors that lead to self-medication in people suffering from respiratory tract infections such as COVID-19, and the consequences of practicing self-medication using antimicrobial agents. Most of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are also seen in infections such as malaria, flu, and the common cold. For this reason, and also due to poor healthcare-seeking behaviour, most people tend to self-medicate using medicines that are known to be effective against malaria, common cold, and COVID-19. Among the commonly used medicines in the practice of self-medication include antibacterials, antimalarials, and antivirals. Some vitamins such as vitamin C boost the immune system enabling it to provide effective defence mechanisms against microbes. However, self-medication may pose consequences such as the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, hypersensitivity reactions as well as dose-dependent toxicities viz dermatoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and hepatoxicity. Infectious diseases caused by antimicrobial-resistant microbes are difficult and, in some instances, impossible to treat thereby leading to increased morbidity and mortality among infected people. Consequently, antimicrobial resistance poses another global public health problem and requires a multisectoral approach to curb. It is our recommendation that all governments ensure that there are adequate medicines and efficient human resources in healthcare facilities as well as sufficient public awareness to prevent people from seeking self-medication.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices among the population, towards COVID-19 in the Lubumbashi city (DR Congo): An online cross-sectional survey

“…These same authors add that self-medication against COVID-19 should be monitored, especially in low-income countries, with inadequate health systems, as it can increase the current health crisis. For Mudenda et al [73], self-medication during COVID-19 presents risks, particularly in relation to microbial resistance, hypersensitivity reactions to the used products and intoxication. In view of results from this study (Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Figure 3), sensitization among the Lubumbashi inhabitants is essential to inform them about risks and consequences of self-medication; especially also that several plants are combined among themselves and even with conventional drugs.…”

Knowledge and preparedness of community pharmacists in the fight against COVID-19 in Zambia

“…30,31 Since COVID-19 may present like other respiratory infections, community pharmacists are also providing advice and counselling to patients on the use of antibiotics for the management of COVID-19 symptoms, hence, discouraging self-medication. 32 There is evidence that antibiotic use has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 33 Therefore, community pharmacists, being cardinal players of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs), must strengthen ASPs during infectious disease pandemics.…”

The Second Wave of COVID-19 and Risk of the Third Wave: Factors Affecting the Continuous Transmission, Spread of, and Increased Mortality Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

“…Poor health-seeking behavior also increases mortality and thus many deaths have been reported as brought-in dead (Chileshe et al, 2020). People choose to selfmedicate while their condition worsens (Mudenda et al, 2020b). This may lead to exacerbation of COVID-19 infections and mortality.…”