title: Drug use before hospital admission in Zimbabwe.
abstract: Drug use before hospital admission was studied prospectively in 284 consecutive patients admitted to general medical wards in Zimbabwe. Drugs were used by 84% of patients. Self-medication was used by 143 (50%) patients, aspirin (54%) and chloroquine (17%) being the most commonly used drugs. Traditional medicines were used by 55 (19%) patients. Drugs dispensed from orthodox medical sources were taken by 128 (45%) patients. Analgesics (22%), antibiotics (18%), and chloroquine (13%) were the commonest drugs dispensed. Urine screening tests were performed and were positive for aspirin in 37% of cases, chloroquine (33%), and antibiotics (20%). Adverse drug reactions requiring hospital admission occurred in 14 patients (10 orthodox medicines, 4 traditional medicines). Drug use before hospital admission, which is often poorly documented, is a source of potential drug toxicity and may obscure a diagnosis of infective illness.
authors: Mpilo Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
authors: H G
authors: HG
authors: Taylor
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Stein
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Jongeling
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D004358:Drug Therapy; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012651:Self Medication; D013997:Time Factors; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002738:Chloroquine; D001241:Aspirin