Mortality during the Winter Flu Epidemic — Two Cases of Death Associated with Self-Medication

Stevenson, R
MacWalter, R S
Harmse, J D
Wilson, E

Departments of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee
^* Pathology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee
⁺ Intensive Care Anaesthetics, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee

Correspondence to: Dr RS MacWalter, Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY. Tel: 01382 660111 extn 33892 Email: [email protected]

Scottish Medical Journal 46(3):p 84-86, June 2001. | DOI: 10.1177/003693300104600307

We report two cases of mortality associated with the recent winter influenza outbreak. Both cases were associated with self-medication. In one case an elderly lady died from haemorrhagic duodenitis induced by over the counter ibuprofen. In the second case the lady died from the consequences of exceeding the recommended doses of paracetamol by combining doses of the generic product with proprietary flu-remedies and Tylex (paracetamol and codeine).