Pill-popping fuels the Superbug era

Pill-popping and self-medication is very much a part of our culture. In fact, the comfort we've acquired with pills explains why it's so hard for us to stop taking antibiotics even when we don't need them.

While Benadryl syrup and Baralgan used to be popular remedies for coughs and stomach aches a decade ago, today we are equally comfortable with Augmentin and Norflox. Doctors may have introduced us to antibiotics, but now we simply turn to our chemists to provide them. The disastrous consequence of this casual attitude to self-medication has been multidrug resistance.

People with diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and typhoid aren't responding to medicines typically used to treat these. Infections that don't respond to antibiotics are becoming more common and the threat from invasive procedures and surgery has become tenfold.

Naturally, the medical community is petrified. Campaigns to prevent antibiotic abuse are ongoing and this week has been designated "Antibiotic Awareness Week" by the Indian Pediatric Academy in association with the Indian Medical Academy (IMA).

Last week, President of IMA, YC Yogananda Reddy pleaded with doctors to stop prescribing antibiotics for simple ailments such as colds and coughs. "Inappropriate use leads to resistance," he declared. Apart from requesting doctors to refrain from prescribing antibiotics indiscriminately, he also said that chemists must stop selling these over the counter. This is easier said than done.

Changing our attitude to antibiotic use and medicines is a challenge, since we Indians are terribly passionate about pills. I still remember an uncle of mine who kept tablets of a schedule H drug Enteroquinol in his wallet and advocated them to everyone with tummy troubles.

"Two tablets three times a day is all you need," he said. Though this drug is banned in many countries, the lax regulations here ensured him a supply till he died. Most of us function as drug dispensers for our maids, cooks and drivers. Every time someone brings us an ailment, we simply open up our medicine chests and hand out the pills.

Here's a sample of a personal dictionary of drugs: Antihistamines like Avil or Allerid to be given in case of insect bites, drippy noses and allergies to foods; Combiflam for all aches, pains and high fever; Lomotil or Roko for tummy upsets and Avomine for motion sickness.

Our casual attitude to medication can be blamed on the following factors: We are frequently struck by colds, coughs and other minor ailments since the environmental and lifestyle factors that breed infections and other illnesses are worsening.

The concept of the family doctor has almost died for those who can afford this, so getting a consultation is more complicated and involves dealing with practitioners who are "specialists"; a chunk of people can't afford a private doctors' fees and chemists provide an accessible option when they need treatment and want to bypass a doctor.

Is this an ideal situation? Shouldn't every person have access to a doctor, ideally one who doesn't prescribe antibiotics indiscriminately? Is it right for a chemist to prescribe or sell medicines to people without prescriptions?

We know the answers to these questions. But until we have viable healthcare options for the majority, we must accept that drug dispensers will act as doctors and self-medication will prevail.

Antibiotic abuse and drug resistance is really just one symptom of a much larger problem.