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. 2018 Apr 5;10(4):e2428. doi: 10.7759/cureus.2428

Table 2. Illnesses and Reasons for Self-medication with Antibiotics .

NA: not available; OPD: outpatient department; GIT: gastrointestinal tract

Study Illnesses Reasons
Tshokey et al. [13] NA NA
Biswas et al. [14]

  • GIT problems (36.02%)

  • Cold, cough and fever (28.24%)

  • Infection (12.97%)

  • Pre-experience (45.82%)

  • Suggestions from others (28.24%)

  • Knowledge of the antibiotics (16.14%)

  • Reduction of doctor’s fees (6.34%)

  • No confidence with doctor’s medication (3.46%)
Seam et al. [15] NA

  • Old prescription

  • Academic knowledge

  • Internet

  • Advertisement

  • Friends
Shubha et al. [16]

  • Sore throat (44.19%)

  • Common cold (41.86%)

  • Toothache (39.53%)

  • Diarrhea (24.42%)

  • Flu (9.30%)

  • Other respiratory conditions (5.81%)

  • Being a dentist (40%) previous prescription (16.87%)

  • Considering the symptoms as minor (14.46%)
Biswas et al. [17]

  • Common-cold

  • Cough

  • Sore throat, diarrhea, fever

  • Burning micturition

  • Skin infections

 NA
Nair et al. [18]

  • Common cold, cough, and sore throat (62.4%)

  • Fever (25.3%)

  • Gastrointestinal tract infections (18.6%)

  • Easier to apply previous prescription (46.6%)

  • Convenience (21.7%)

  • Good knowledge of antibiotics (11.3%)
Ahmad et al. [19]

  • Respiratory tract infection (16.83%), wound infection (14.5%)

  • Cough and cold (14.5%)

  • Gastrointestinal tract infection (13.66%)

  • Fever (13.66%)

  • Skin disorders (13%)

  • Eye and ear infections (7%), Acne (2.33%), Urinary tract infections (1%)

  • Other diseases (3.5%)

  • Disease is simple (21.83%)

  • Treatment cost is high in hospitals (30%)

  • Previous experience with the disease (8.16%)

  • Lack of hospitals in the nearest place (8.16%)

  • Patient knows about the drug and disease (11.5%)

  • Lack of trust in medical service (4%)
Pal et al. [20]

  • Medical students: fever (48.4%), diarrhea (47.6%), cough (46%), sore throat (43.6%)

  • Pharmacy students: fever (46.8%), cough (30.6%), sore throat (29.7%), and diarrhea (23.4%)

  • Sufficient pharmacological knowledge

  • Timesaving

  • Avoiding crowd at OPD

  • Cost saving

Virmani et al. [21]

  • Middle ear infection

  • Clear nasal discharge

  • Purulent nasal discharge

  • Sore throat

  • Flu-like symptoms

  • Skin infections

NA
Ganesan et al. [22]

  • Coughs and sore throat

  • Cold and fever

  • Ear infections

  • Flu conditions

  • Toothache

 NA
Widayati et al. [23] Common-cold, including cough, sore throat, headache, and other minor symptoms

  • Previous experience

  • Saving time

  • Saving money
Hadi et al. [24] NA NA
Kurniawan et al. [25]

  • Wounds or skin diseases (32.2%)

  • Acute respiratory infections (18.3%)

  • Fever (11.7%)

  • More practical than seeking a doctor

  • Too busy to see a doctor

  • Previous experience

  • No money to pay for doctor
Kim et al. [26] NA NA
Sah et al. [27]

  • Fever (35.7%)

  • Sore throat (20.2%)

  • Rhinitis (12.5%)

  • Good knowledge of antibiotic (46.2%)

  • Doctor advice is not needed for common illness (32%)

  • To save time and money (21.3%)
Pant et al. [28] Fever (39.0%) followed by sore throat, cough, diarrhoea, and runny nose

  • Previous prescriptions (42.4% )

  • Recommended by pharmacists (37.3%)

  • Own experience (25.4%)

  • Opinion of family and friends (18.7%)
Banerjee et al. [29] NA NA
Rathish et al. [30]

  • Sore throat (46%): most common

  • Runny nose, Flu

  • Diarrhea

  • Previous experience

  • No access to physician care
Sirijoti et al. [31] NA

  • Buy antibiotics yourself by bringing old antibiotics packaging or the sample of used antibiotics

  • Buy antibiotics yourself by suggestions from your friends and family

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