Covid-19: Doctors warn against self-medication

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): Doctors in western Ghor province call self-medication to treat the Covid-19 pandemic a harmful practice.

The warning comes as some residents of the province, suffering from the coronavirus, take medicines without consulting doctors.

Surfacing in 2019, the Covid-19 virus spread across the globe and infected millions of people. Thousands have died from the respiratory virus while a huge number of people recovered.

The pandemic continues to threaten human lives, with medical experts having failed to find a proper anti-Covid-19 medicine.

In order to prevent this virus spreading, the Afghans, including residents of Ghor, consume different medicines willfully in addition to taking certain food items and natural herbs.

Treating Covid with ordinary drugs

Pajhwok Afghan News findings show some residents of Ghor believe that certain medicines are effective in treating Covid without doctor’s advice.

Farida, an illiterate resident of Ferozkoh, and five of her family members were infected with cold and sore throat.

Along with her six-year-old child, she visited a pharmacy without having doctor’s prescription. She asked pharmacy workers for medicines, such as paracetamol and ampicillin.

Complaining of fever, pain and lung issues, she was asked why she did not consult a doctor and took medicine willfully.

Farida replied her neighbour, a teacher by profession, had recommended her these medicines.

“Whenever I have a headache, cough or a sore throat, I take tablets such as paracetamol tablet or syrup. As a result, I get well,” she said. Her neighbour told her to use this medicine even when she contracted the coronavirus.

Mohammad Omar, another resident of Ghor, said he did not go to the doctor for the treatment of a headache, fever or sore throat. Instead, he relies on painkillers.

“I often have a headache or a sore throat. I take painkillers and get better,” claimed

Omar, who recalled that his 70-year-old father was infected with Covid-19 last year. The elderly man recovered as a result of self-medication, he added.

Pharmacists Abdul Rashid Farjad told Pajhwok: “Most of the people come here and purchase medicines willfully despite having symptoms of Covid-19.”

A dangerous practice

Mohammad Sharif Qazizada, a doctor at the main provincial hospital, said the willful consumption of medicines to treat any disease was wrong because it led to serious consequences.

“Unfortunately, our people use drugs willfully to treat headaches and life-threatening ailments, even Covid-19. This practice has several side-effects, such as irritation or stomach ulcers.”

He urged the people to visit doctors in any case and not to take medicines without doctors’ advice.

Dr. Abdullah Ahmad Noori also cautioned against self-medication, saying it could be dangerous for any person suffering from any disease.

However, he explained, self-medication was more dangerous for Covid patients because the pandemic resulted in physical weakness.

“Unfortunately, several of our compatriots come to us because of the willful use of drugs. When I ask them why they do so, they say they have used different types of drugs.

“Families should see to it that people suffering the coronavirus do not use medicines without doctor’s advice,” he stressed.

Some people, who did not suffer from any disease at all, took Vitamin D or C, he sid, reiterating the practice could be harmful.

sa/mud