No need to panic about the persisting H3N2 virus situation in the country, assures IMA President, Health News, ET HealthWorld
H3N2 the new virus sparks high fever, long-lasting cough, say doctors
Speaking exclusively to ETHealthworld, Dr Agarwal said, "The rise in the H3N2 cases is an extension of the common cold and flu, which we are used to seeing between October and February every year in India," adding that "Usually the recovery is within three to four days. But in the H3N2 cases, the fever is prolonging for more than a week or more. The cough is persisting for three weeks."
When asked about the seasonal flu causing greater severity of infections among people this time, the IMA President called it a virus specific activity and said, "Viral infections will come and you cannot control them. But what we can do is avoid crowded areas, wash our hands regularly, maintain social distance, and wear masks. The Holi festival is around the corner, and it is important for people to follow the advisory issued."
The sale of over-the-counter medicines in the nation's capital has reportedly multiplied over the previous month. They include bronchial cough syrups, allergy medications, and paracetamol tablets, whose sales have increased by more than 25 per cent just in the past month.
Dr Agarwal staunchly disapproved of the idea of self medication and buying medicines from the chemists without consulting the doctors. "People are advised not to buy medicines directly from the store because they are not aware of the right quantity and dosage for a particular medication. Usually, people go to a medical store to buy medicines during infections. The chemist gives them antibiotics for two to three days. People hardly know the doses, and by the time symptoms subside, they stop taking antibiotics."
This situation, as described by Dr Agarwal, leads to antibiotic resistance. "And, in future, when they actually require antibiotics, it doesn't work."
All viral infections dont require antibiotics at the initial stage, unless there is a super added bacterial infection. The IMAs president elaborated further, "It is a thumb rule, if there is a viral infection, then ideally we should not use antibiotics."
The nations premier doctors organisation earlier on Saturday issued an advisory for the doctors to avoid the use of antibiotics in the aftermath of rising H3N2 cases in the country. Reaffirming that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem and that millions of people die worldwide due to the development of drug-resistant pathogens, Dr Agarwal informed, "It is an emerging problem not only in India but in the rest of the world as well. The reason behind issuing such an advisory is the irrational use of antibiotics."
The IMA has also constituted a standing committee on antimicrobial resistance. The committee aims to work with, follow, and closely monitor the global practises that will be used to sensitise doctors and clinicians in India.
"Backed up with global data, the doctors and clinicians should use antibiotics rationally, not with whims and fancies," the IMA president concluded.
AMR is one of the top 10 worldwide public health hazards to humanity, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). And according to the United Nations (UN) organisation focused on global health, the success of contemporary medicine in treating infections, notably those during major surgery and cancer chemotherapy, would be at greater danger without effective antimicrobials.
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Monday, March 6, 2023 at 2:30 pm