One-third of Czechs prescribe themselves medications. Beware of self-treatment, doctors warn (2)

While you can cope with a common viral illness on your own, it is important to determine the specific diagnosis in order to decide on appropriate and effective treatment. Consulting a specialist before prescribing yourself a pill is thus definitely the right thing to do.

Cases when a misdiagnosis has caused a patient’s health to deteriorate are not uncommon. A typical example is the common cold, with which people often struggle, even in summer. The symptoms are not dramatic, so they reach into the medicine cabinet without knowing with absolute certainty what they are suffering from. But a runny nose, cough and headache in summer can be caused by more than just air conditioning or swimming in cold water. It can be summer flu, and tonsillitis is not uncommon.

Correct diagnosis – the basis of successful treatment

“You can cope with a common viral illness on your own, but it is important to determine the specific diagnosis in order to decide on appropriate and effective treatment. Consulting a specialist before prescribing yourself a pill is thus definitely the right thing to do,” advises MUDr. Petra Bomberová Kánská, head of the Doctor Online 24/7 medical service from the EUC healthcare group. Insufficient or inappropriate treatment can lead to many serious health complications and later problems. "If left untreated, flu can cause joint problems and inflammation of the heart muscle or lungs in the future. Even the initial symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis sometimes resemble a flu-like illness. And infection is possible without even noticing you have been bitten by a tick,” the doctor warns.

If you’re Czech, you’re a “doctor”

It is apparent from the survey that of the Czech respondents who search for health information on the internet, nearly half of them (48%) are interested in particular illnesses, health problems and injuries, while 12% of respondents choose their own form of treatment. Fewer than one-fifth of Czechs make an appointment with a doctor based on the information they have obtained and only one in ten consult a doctor online regarding information from the internet. An alarming aspect is the fact that, after an internet search, nearly one-third of respondents buy medications without consulting a doctor. The survey also showed that people aged 55 and over, who most frequently search for health information online, are at greater risk of self-diagnosis and self-treatment.

A doctor can help even when you’re on holiday – remotely and in Czech

Even when you are on holiday, you can consult a qualified specialist about your health problems. The development of telemedicine in recent years has brought forth unprecedented possibilities and physically visiting a doctor’s office is no longer necessary in all cases. Common health problems can be resolved with a doctor remotely via chat or video call, from anywhere with an internet connection – even from a cottage in the middle of a forest or from abroad. An added advantage for travellers abroad is that they can consult a doctor in their native language at any time, 24 hours a day.

One example of such remote medical care is the Doctor Online 24/7 service from the EUC healthcare group. "During the summer holiday season, our services have been used the most by patients with suspected summer viruses. People suffering from digestive disorders and various types of inflammation often turn to us. Patients with urinary tract infections and women with gynaecological problems caused by swimming and wearing wet swimsuits are not uncommon,” says MUDr. Bomberová Kánská.

Doctor online 24/7

[1] The online survey was conducted using the Ipsos agency’s Instant Research application from 14 to 19 April 2021 among a sample of 2,100 respondents from the Czech Republic in the 25-65 age category.