Man with severe sepsis due to prolonged corticosteroid abuse

The patient had a history of chronic joint pain for more than 10 years, often using drugs of unknown origin to relieve pain. The patient was hospitalized with severe physical exhaustion, with a reserved prognosis.

On June 24, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases informed that doctors at the Intensive Care Center are treating a male patient, TVM (77 years old, living in Thanh Hoa ), in a state of severe sepsis on the basis of adrenal insufficiency due to prolonged corticoid abuse.

The patient was admitted to the hospital in a severely exhausted state, with a very cautious prognosis.

Doctor Ha Viet Huy, who directly treated Mr. M., said that the patient had a history of chronic joint pain for more than 10 years, and often used drugs of unknown origin mixed with corticosteroids to relieve pain. Long-term use of drugs without prescription and without dosage control led to adrenal suppression, adrenal insufficiency, and a weakened immune system.

Nearly a month before admission, the patient developed a large boil on the back of the neck, a persistent high fever of 39-40°C, fatigue and lethargy. Despite antibiotic treatment at a local medical facility for about 20 days, the patient's condition did not improve, the patient's infection did not improve, and his consciousness gradually deteriorated. Blood cultures confirmed infection with multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - a dangerous type of bacteria that is highly resistant to many common antibiotics.

Upon transfer to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the patient was in severe respiratory failure, severe metabolic acidosis, and required endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, drainage of abscesses, and intensive resuscitation. The patient still has a fever, and although initially responding, the prognosis is very poor due to the severe underlying disease and severe immune deficiency.

Doctor Huy warned that the condition of patient M. is a typical consequence of the abuse of corticosteroids in the community, especially through folk remedies of unknown origin and unquantified dosage. Long-term use of corticosteroids not only causes endocrine failure but also disrupts the immune system, creating conditions for severe infections and many dangerous complications.

Therefore, Dr. Huy recommends that people absolutely do not arbitrarily use long-term painkillers without a doctor's examination. Drugs that provide immediate relief but have unknown ingredients and are not prescribed only provide immediate results, while they can silently destroy hormones and immunity, leading to unpredictable consequences when the disease breaks out./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nguoi-dan-ong-nhiem-khuan-huyet-nang-do-lam-dung-thuoc-corticoid-keo-dai-post1046017.vnp