NEW DELHI, Mar 5 (NNN-PTI) – As influenza cases have been on the rise across many parts of India, and patients complaining of prolonged illness, cough, fever and respiratory problems, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has asked people to avoid antibiotics.
“There is a sudden increase in the number of patients having symptoms of cough, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, fever, body ache and diarrhoea in some cases. The infection usually lasts for about five to seven days,” the IMA in a public advisory said.
“The fever goes away at the end of three days but the cough can persist for up to three weeks.”
The top doctors’ body said, as per information from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), most of these cases are due to H3N2 influenza virus.
The IMA suggested symptomatic treatment for these colds and coughs and said, there was no need to give antibiotics.
“But right now, people start taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav etc, that too, without caring for dose and frequency and stop it once start feeling better. This needs to be stopped, as it leads to antibiotic resistance,” the IMA said.– NNN-PTI