He often bought medicine from a nearby pharmacy for convenience, reluctant to seek medical consultation. For the past two years, he has experienced persistent, uncontrolled diarrhea, on one occasion having to leave an ancestral death anniversary ceremony prematurely.

Earlier this year, he endured a cough and fever for three months. His self-medication attempts led to severe physical exhaustion. Upon hospitalization, doctors diagnosed him with pulmonary tuberculosis and gut dysbiosis, noting that, fortunately, the bacteria had not yet developed antibiotic resistance.

In Hung Yen, Minh Anh, a four-year-old girl, weighs only 9 kg and suffers from malnutrition. Her mother frequently self-prescribed antibiotics whenever Minh Anh had a sniffle or a mild fever since early childhood. As a result, the child has been constantly ill, with decayed teeth and stunted growth. Doctors attributed her gut dysbiosis and subsequent malnutrition to the misuse of antibiotics.

Self-medicating with antibiotics can cause digestive disorders and increase antibiotic resistance. Photo: Vecteezy

Doctor Nguyen Le Nga, Medical Manager at the VNVC Vaccination System, explained that antibiotics are effective only against bacteria, not viruses. She warned that self-medicating can lead to digestive disorders, malnutrition, weakened immunity, kidney damage, and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Hospitals have reported numerous cases of antibiotic resistance resulting from individuals self-administering oral or intravenous antibiotics at home. For instance, An, a six-year-old from TP HCM, developed a peritonsillar abscess where the bacteria exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, necessitating specialized inpatient treatment.

The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) reports that Vietnam ranks 11th globally in antibiotic usage, with 62% of its population self-purchasing antibiotics. This figure surpasses those of Trung Quoc (36%), Indonesia (17%), An Do (18%), and the UK (3%). Consequently, Vietnam is among the top 10 nations with high rates of antibiotic resistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that from 2020-2023, antibiotic resistance contributed to nearly 300,000 deaths in Vietnam.

Cold weather and pollution compromise immune systems, facilitating the spread of viruses and bacteria. Self-prescribing antibiotics in such conditions can worsen illnesses or induce drug resistance.

Doctor Nga advises individuals experiencing acute infection symptoms such as fever, cough, or runny nose to seek diagnosis and treatment at a reputable medical facility. She emphasized proactive disease prevention rather than waiting for illness to self-medicate for quick recovery. Recommended preventive measures include: staying warm, wearing masks, frequent hand washing, consuming nutritious food, drinking adequate water, exercising regularly to boost health, and utilizing vaccines for disease prevention.

Children are brought by parents for flu vaccination at the VNVC Vaccination System. Photo: Hoang Duong

Vietnam currently offers various vaccines to protect against influenza, pneumococcal disease, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can lead to complications such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

For influenza, Vietnam provides four types of vaccines targeting influenza A strains (A/H3N2 and A/H1N1) and influenza B. These are administered to children from six months of age and adults. Children aged six months to under nine years who have not been previously vaccinated require two doses, one month apart. Individuals aged nine years and older, along with adults, need a single dose. An annual booster shot is recommended.

Two types of RSV vaccines are currently available: one from Pfizer, administered as a single dose to individuals aged 60 and above, and to pregnant women between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation; another from GSK, also a single dose, for individuals aged 60 and older, and those with underlying health conditions. Furthermore, Sanofi has introduced a monoclonal antibody product to Vietnam, administered to infants up to 24 months old, with the schedule and dosage determined by age and weight.

For pneumococcal disease, five vaccine types are available: pneumococcal 10, pneumococcal 13, pneumococcal 15, pneumococcal 20, and pneumococcal 23. The vaccination schedule varies based on age and previous vaccination history.

Additionally, various other vaccines are available to prevent diseases prone to complications. Individuals can consult their nearest vaccination center for guidance.

Hoang Yen

*Character names have been changed.