PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PHE)
CLASS: GRADE 5
TOPIC: DANGERS OF SELF-MEDICATION, MEDICINE INTERACTIONS, ALLERGIES, AND SIDE EFFECTS
What is Self-Medication?
Medicines are substances used to cure, treat, or prevent illnesses. However, they can become dangerous poisons if used wrongly.
Self-medication is the act of taking medicines without a doctor’s prescription or advice from a qualified health professional. This includes using leftover drugs from previous illnesses or buying medicines from local chemist shops and street vendors without knowing the exact cause of your sickness.
Dangers of Self-Medication
Taking medicines without proper medical advice can lead to serious health problems:
- Wrong Dosage: You may take too much (overdose), which can damage vital organs like your liver and kidneys. Taking too little (underdose) means the sickness will not be cured.
- Wrong Diagnosis: You might treat the wrong illness. For example, taking malaria pills when you actually have typhoid fever.
- Drug Addiction: Misuse of certain drugs, like pain relievers and cough syrups, can make a person dependent on them.
- Worsening of Illness: Delaying proper medical help can make the sickness worse or even lead to death.
Drug Interactions, Side Effects, and Allergies
- Drug Interaction: This happens when two or more medicines react badly with each other inside your body, or when a medicine reacts with certain foods or drinks (like milk or herbal mixtures). This can stop the drugs from working or cause poisoning.
- Side Effects: These are unwanted, secondary effects that can happen even when you take the correct dose of medicine. Common side effects include drowsiness (feeling sleepy), dizziness, nausea, or a dry mouth.
- Drug Allergies: This is a dangerous reaction where your body’s immune system fights against a medicine. Symptoms include skin rashes, itching, swollen lips, and difficulty breathing. If this happens, you must stop taking the medicine immediately and see a doctor.
Safety Rules for Using Medicines
To stay safe, always follow these rules:
- Only take medicines given to you by a doctor, pharmacist, parent, or teacher.
- Always check the expiry date before taking any drug.
- Never share your prescribed medicine with friends, even if they have the same symptoms.
- Always finish the complete dose prescribed by the doctor.
Summary
- Self-medication is taking drugs without a doctor's prescription.
- It can cause organ damage, wrong treatment, or drug addiction.
- Drug interaction is the bad reaction when different drugs are mixed.
- Side effects are minor unwanted reactions like sleepiness, while allergies are serious immune reactions like rashes and breathing problems.
- Always take medicines under adult or medical supervision.
Classwork / Evaluation
Answer the following questions in your exercise book:
- What is self-medication?
- Mention two dangers of self-medication.
- Explain the difference between a side effect and a drug allergy.
- Why is it dangerous to share prescription medicines with friends?
- State two safety rules to follow when taking medicine.
GLORIOUS FIRST TREASURES ACADEMY