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How common is self-treatment in non gonococcal urethritis?
1St Stephen's Clinic, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.
Genitourinary Medicine
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Ten percent of men with new episode non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) self-treat, often with antibiotics, delaying proper medical care and risking adverse effects. Early clinic attendance and contact tracing are crucial for effective management of NGU.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is a common infection in men.
- Self-treatment practices among men with NGU are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of self-treatment in men presenting with a new episode of NGU.
- To identify the types of treatments men use before attending a genitourinary medicine clinic.
Main Methods:
- A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 300 consecutive men with new episode NGU.
- Information on prior treatments used before clinic attendance was collected.
Main Results:
- 10% of men (30 out of 300) reported self-treating for an average of 7 days before attending the clinic.
- Common self-treatments included antibiotics, antiseptics, and various unverified remedies.
- Over 70% of those using antibiotics had self-medicated, with one case resulting in a fixed drug eruption.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of men with NGU engage in self-treatment.
- Self-treatment can lead to adverse effects, interfere with diagnostic tests, delay appropriate therapy, and increase the risk to sexual contacts.
- Promoting early clinic attendance and active contact tracing is essential for managing NGU effectively.