Medical drug utilization patterns for febrile patients in rural areas of Mexico

The objective of this study was to evaluate the medication pattern of febrile patients and determine what proportion of these drugs were included in the Mexican Essential Drugs List. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 32 rural communities located in malarial endemic areas near the Mexico-Guatemala border. Of 817 febrile patients interviewed, 55% self-medicated, while 16% consulted a physician. The most frequently used drugs were antipyretics (68%), antibiotics (25%), and antimalarial drugs (37%), despite the fact that only 2% of all febrile patients were diagnosed with malaria. Antipyrine, acetylsalicylic acid, and acetaminophen represented 84% of antipyretics, and ampicillin, penicillin, and sulfadiazine-trimethoprim represented 51% of total antibiotics. Public health service and self-medicating patients used essential drugs (antipyretics and antibiotics) significantly more than those consulting private physicians. These findings demonstrate the need to foster access to primary health care (PHC) facilities, rational drug prescription by private physicians, and to review guidelines for prescription of antimalarial drugs for febrile patients.