More than 50% all medicines worldwide are prescribed,dispensed or sold inappropriately. 50% of patients

fail to take them correctly. Conversely, about one-third of the world population lacks access to essential medicines. Treatment with medicines is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions known and the proportion of national health budget spent on medicines ranges between 10% and 20% in developed countries and between 20 and 40% in developing countries. Thus, it is extremely serious that so much medicine is being used in an inappropriate and irrational way.

Irrational use

Common types of irrational use of medicine are:

1. The use of too many medicines per patient

2. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, often in inadequate dosage, for viral infections

3. Over-use of injections when oral formulations would be more appropriate;

4. Failure to prescribe in accordance with clinical guidelines;

5. Inappropriate self-medication, often of prescription-only medicines.

Poor communication between professionals and consumers

Communication between professionals and consumers is fundamental to the improvement of rational use of medicines by consumers. Professionals should provide the following information to the consumers: the name of the medicine, the purpose for which the medicine is being taken, dose, frequency of use, and duration of use. The prescribed and dispensed medicines should also be properly labeled indicating the above information. The shortage of qualified health personnel in public health facilities has resulted in inadequate labeling of medications , and in insufficient time spent by them to inform the consumers on how to take the medicine. Also important are the possible drug and food interactions that might occur after taking the medicines. In cases of medicines for chronic diseases such as anti cancer drugs, the adverse effects such as memory loss, depression and many others should be explained to the consumer.

All this communication requires adequate time between the professionals and consumers which is not always available due to the enormous workload of the health professionals in the developing countries. The situations has been made worse by the increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS and the attendant treatment issues which have placed further burden on both the health professionals and consumers.

The influence of the company towards prescribing its product specially when new product introduced into the market. A study conducted by German Government on new medicines showed that 300000 doctors were prescribing a new type of insulin (analogue insulin) which has no added advantage over existing insulin. As a result of this finding the German Ministry of health decided to exclude new drugs form the list of medications paid for the national health insurance system as long as they are more expensive than existing approved drugs. This is an important step into the right direction but many of such types of steps taken in future to protect patients from this serious and widespread public health problem

For parents, there is nothing more painful than seeing their infant sick. The inability of an infant to express what they are feeling is hard enough for most parents, what more if they are constantly struggling with their affliction. We as parents are powerless and thus we seek out the assistance of our child’s pediatrician.

Most of the time, pediatricians prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections like tonsillitis, ear infection, urinary track infections, pneumonia, etc, but what if our child is allergic to the medication prescribed? How do we detect this? What causes this, and what should we do about it? Is this type of treatment necessary?

Bacteria constantly evolve and develop resistances to antibiotics. An indication of this is unwillingness to feed, insufficient hydration, and blister-like blotches that cause irritation and itchiness. In worse case scenarios, an infant may go through anaphylactic shock, which can lead to loss of life. The infant experiences difficulty in breathing, loses consciousness, and will need a shot of adrenaline. If not administered immediately, death may soon follow.

The following often cause yeast infection in infants:

? The constant use of antibiotics

? The use of unclean pacifiers and baby bottles

? Breastfeeding by yeast-infected mothers

? Humid weather

Yeast infection in infants is a clear sign of the immune system’s reaction to the overuse of antibiotics. This medication produces microorganisms that are detected by the child’s body as foreign and harmful substances, and in turn triggers the creation of allergic antibodies to counter these substances. These antibodies are the main cause of hives, thrush, diarrhea, and constant vomiting. These symptoms may occur after the first or after several dosages of the said medication.

There are measures we as parents can take to prevent yeast infection in infants. We must understand that our children’s immune system must be naturally strengthened in order to avoid yeast infection. We must avoid the needless introduction or exposure to fungus in their bodies, and maintain the balance of good bacteria in their digestive system. To do this, proper nutrition, supplementation, and the introduction of probiotics, in daily dosages, should be followed.

There are certain types of food parents should stop or reduce feeding infants, to avoid yeast infection. We should avoid feeding infants red meat, canned goods that are full of preservatives, vegetables that favor mold like corn, food rich in yeast like mushrooms and vinegar ( apple cider is an exception ), dairy produce notably from cows, egg whites, and caffeine.

We must also ensure our child’s proper hygiene. We must make sure of the cleanliness of their belongings and surroundings. Always remember to sanitize properly their pacifiers and bottles.

In conclusion, antibiotics should be avoided and should not be the immediate remedy for an infant’s bacterial infection. It should only be used as a last resort. A child must undergo the natural way of strengthening his or her body’s immune system, by breast feeding, proper nutrition, and properly balancing good bacteria. When an infant is suffering from an affliction, it would be wise to use alternative forms of medication, and let nature take its course.