Dangerous when arbitrarily infusion at home

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Hong Phuc - Emergency Resuscitation Doctor, Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital. The doctor has nearly 20 years of experience in Emergency Resuscitation.

Infusion is one of the measures used in the treatment of the disease. That's why many people abuse this method, arbitrarily giving fluids at home when they are sick or tired. This is very dangerous, because even in cases of infusion according to the doctor's prescription, following the correct procedure, there is still the potential for complications.
However, the situation of patients with high fever or fatigue, voluntarily giving fluids has appeared more and more common

Infusion is a method of intravenous drip, bringing beneficial substances into the body through the bloodstream to support the treatment of disease or to restore the body,... In fact, the infusion of fluids It is very necessary, in many cases, infusion is also an important emergency measure, helping the patient to overcome the dangerous period. However, the infusion is not as simple as many people think, just inserting the needle and waiting for the fluid to drain.
In order for the patient to receive an infusion, the doctor needs to examine and evaluate the patient's condition, then select the type of infusion, the number of infusions per day, the time of infusion and the rate of infusion appropriate for each patient. After the doctor's prescription, the trained nurses will pre-order the infusion. The infusion needs to be done at medical facilities with adequate emergency equipment and facilities, so that they can be promptly handled if anaphylaxis occurs.
Even in the case of intravenous infusion according to indications, the correct infusion technique still has the potential for complications, let alone overusing the infusion when it is not necessary or the infusion is not correct at the peak.

The dangerous complications that can occur when self-infusion at home are:
Anaphylaxis, which can lead to death, is the most serious complication. Sepsis is also a dangerous complication that can lead to death if not treated promptly. Generalized edema, peritoneal effusion, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure or heart failure, especially in those with diagnosed or unrecognized cardiovascular disease. When put into the body an unnecessary amount of fluid will lead to excess and electrolyte disturbances, thereby causing many other consequences. When giving infusion at home, there is still a potential risk of infection with diseases such as hepatitis B, C, HIV/AIDS, etc., due to incorrect transmission techniques and lack of sterility. Causes deficiency of trace elements. When the infusion is prolonged, it will lead to the degeneration of the intestinal capillaries, making the ability to absorb food poor, resulting in a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. When the amount of fluid infused into the body is too much, it can cause hypertonic dehydration of the cells, causing atrophy of brain cells which is very dangerous. Infusion in accordance with indications, correct technique may also encounter some of the following complications:
At the injection site, there is edema, swelling, and pain. There may be chills, sweating, pale face, shortness of breath, chest pain, ... At the injection needle insertion site, there may be local swelling or spreading around, causing the skin to become inflamed. redness, and possibly even necrosis, especially during the infusion of nutrient fluids. Because of the above reasons, patients are absolutely not allowed to arbitrarily administer fluids at home, including fruit juices. The infusion needs to comply with the doctor's instructions after examination, be performed by well-trained medical staff and must be carried out at medical facilities with full equipment. emergency care to be able to handle promptly when an accident occurs.