Poisoning, even death from drugs of unknown origin
The Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital received the case of patient N.T.M (44 years old, in Thuong Tin, Hanoi) diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy grade III, acute liver failure, and breast cancer.
About 2 months before being admitted to the hospital, patient M was diagnosed with breast cancer but had not yet received treatment. The patient was also recently diagnosed with a goiter.
The patient bought yellow powdered herbal medicine at home to take. Afterwards, the patient developed jaundice that gradually increased. The patient was transferred to the Poison Control Center. After a period of treatment there, the patient's condition did not improve. The doctors advised the family to take the patient home.
Doctors at the Central Dermatology Hospital have just treated a 17-year-old patient in Quang Ninh who initially had lesions that appeared as circular red patches, but he treated himself at home by applying unknown topical medications, and also medications purchased online (no label, unknown ingredients), leading to widespread lesions all over his body.
The disease has been progressing for 2 years now. Initially, the lesions appeared as circular, red, itchy patches on both arms. The patient went to the district hospital many times and was treated with topical medications. The lesions improved but then recurred intermittently. For a year now, the patient has been self-treating with unknown topical medications and medications purchased online (unlabeled, unknown ingredients), and the lesions have spread throughout the body.
The results of some tests showed the detection of segmented fungal filaments on the keratinocytes.
Previously, Bach Mai Hospital also treated a 7-year-old patient in Ha Giang who was hospitalized in critical condition because his parents bought medicine to treat his cough at home. The patient came to the hospital with a high fever, an infectious rash, itchy rash all over the body, fatigue, epigastric pain, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and abdominal distension.
The patient's family said that 5 days before being hospitalized, the child had a dry cough and no fever. The family bought more than 11 types of medicine including antibiotics, cough medicine, and anti-inflammatory drugs to take.
Many warnings, patients ignore
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital said that over the years, the Poison Control Center has received many cases of patients in critical condition, with multiple organ failure, brain damage, coma, and even death... due to self-purchasing herbal medicines of unknown origin for treatment. For those who are sick, not going to the doctor or having a doctor but not being treated with modern medicine but buying herbal medicines of unknown origin for use can make the disease worse. When they go to medical facilities for treatment, the disease is already in the late stages, making treatment difficult, and the patient may die.
Improper use of medication can make the condition worse and require longer treatment. Therefore, when patients show signs of illness, they should go to specialized medical facilities for timely examination and treatment.
