A 16-year-old boy was hospitalized after taking 4 types of cold medicines

A 16-year-old high school student in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, recently took four cold medicines at the same time in order to relieve cold symptoms and was admitted to the intensive care unit.

After the student surnamed Zhao developed cold-like symptoms and a slight fever, he took ibuprofen and Quaker (compound paracetamol and amantadine capsules) by himself. However, because it did not achieve the desired effect, he subsequently took two other cold medicines and was admitted to the intensive care unit.

After the medication was mixed up, Zhao began to experience symptoms such as anuria and difficulty breathing. Initially, the local health clinic misdiagnosed his condition as “gastroenteritis.” However, because his condition did not improve after treatment, the Zhao family transferred him to the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, a tertiary hospital in Ningbo.

Gan Yongxiong, a doctor at the hospital, said that after admission, medical staff diagnosed Zhao with acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis, which was caused by a combination of cold medicines acting on the kidneys.

After receiving intensive treatment in the ICU for 5 days, Zhao was transferred to the Nephrology Department for further treatment. Fortunately, he has been discharged from the hospital and his kidney and liver functions have returned to normal.

During the recent surge in respiratory illnesses, doctors emphasized the importance of medication and advised against self-medication, especially when combining different medications without appropriate medical guidance. Patients should read medication instructions carefully and avoid changing prescribed doses or mixing multiple medications without medical supervision.