NEW DELHI: In view of the bout of Influenza like illness prevailing across the country and doctors complaining of patients presenting prolonged illnesses has prompted the centre to issue an advisory as the rise has created a stir.
The ICMR has attributed the prolonged illnesses to the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus. The H3N2 virus causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes.
The symptoms usually include a persistent cough, accompanied by fever. In the recent cases, a lot of patients are complaining of prolonged symptoms. “Infection is taking time to get resolved. Symptoms are stronger. Symptoms persist for a prolonged period, even after the recovery of the patient,” says Dr Anurag Mehrotra, Siddh Hospital.
With air pollution as a contributing factor, people develop fever along with upper respiratory infections. Other commonly reported symptoms include: cough, vomiting, sore throat, body ache.
Do’s:
If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, here are the things to keep in mind:
Wear face masks and avoid crowded areas.
Avoid touching your nose and mouth.
Cover your nose and mouth properly while coughing and sneezing.
Stay hydrated and consume plenty offluids.
In case of fever and bodyache, take paracetamol.
Don’ts:
Shake hands or use other contact based greetings.
Spit in public.
Self-medicate.
Antibiotics and other medicines should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
Eat while sitting close to others.
The IMA has urged doctors to not prescribe antibiotics to patients before confirming whether the infection is bacterial, as this can build up a resistance. Most current cases of fever, cough, sore throat, and body ache are cases of influenza, for which antibiotics are not needed.
“We have already seen widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during Covid and this too has led to resistance. It is necessary to diagnose whether the infection is bacterial or not before prescribing antibiotics,” the medical body said in a statement.