Self-doctoring: Bringing to the never ending trail of Antibiotic resistance

Ashish Kumar Lamiyan and Saumya Surekha, Panjab University, Chandigarh

2021-08-22 14:16:07

Credit: pixabay.com

Credit: pixabay.com

On a serious note, the few comparative studies done exclusively on self-use of antibiotics among populations have shown concern on critical rise of antibiotics resistance. In context to antibiotics and tendency of self-administration for medication has been observed in many populations across the low income countries.  The investigated reasons for these grounds are easy availability, low costs, potentially active against broad range of pathogens. In an elaborative manner the majority of cases that have been taken in consideration comes to be fever, cold, diarrhoea, body pains, cough and many more.

Adding to the other reason, the preliminary source of information on the use of antibiotics is the previous description of a medical practitioner.  During the self-diagnosis process sometimes the indicating symptoms do not confirm the disease or disorder which invites risk of antibiotic resistance. This is due to the fact that while taking the inappropriate medicines sometimes adverse drug reactions occurs.  The repetitive use brings the dose to higher level for the desired effect. The lack of academic knowledge regarding antibiotics is the commonest reason for the same. The increase in risk for the resistance development arises when the treatment course is not completed and the inadequate doses as well.  The microbial population in gut of the host body gets itself acquired to the medications taken and slowly the less sensitive population of microbes increases rapidly in the system.  This could be the possible underlying factor for growing resistance against the effective antibiotics. 

The condition not only brings complication to the host but also makes it difficult for the clinical practice to reach for possible therapeutic option.  Around the globe every research lab is working with full enthusiasm to counter the problem. The complication related to these infections brings economic burden and difficulty in treatment which makes the condition more worsened. Among the asian countries, India presents high number of individuals consuming the drugs for countering the common diseases without consulting medical practitioner or getting in touch with the unregistered ones.  The clinical culture in India is different from the western countries is due to lack of policies which  provides opportunities to people using antibiotics without letting the concern of use. 

In last few years the health experts have noticed signs of potential pathogenic blockades against the effectiveness of commercially available antibiotics.  Taking in consideration of the present pandemic the increased use of antibiotics to prevent other secondary infections has presented the variable complications in covid-19 patients. Taking cognizance, amid Covid high-end antibiotics used in cases for a prolonged period leading to the development of resistance is also a serious concern. The available exposure to the antibiotics make the pathogen get increased in resistant population.

This self-made problem of buying a medicine for even a slight discomfort in the body invites the dangerous unknown.  Therefore, it is necessary that appropriate and most secured pipelines for the distribution of drugs in the society should be implemented. Beside implementing, proper laws should be made for monitoring the distribution of the same.  This will surely bring better health platform for individuals and for the society too.