Flu cases with Covid-like symptoms rise in India, Centre issues advisory: Top points

The flu due to Influenza A subtype H3N2, which has been in wide circulation for the past two-three months, causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes

As several parts of India grapple with persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by fever, the Centre has issued an advisory. The advisory suggests a list of dos and don’ts for people to follow to protect themselves from contracting the flu, which has Covid-like symptoms.

The flu due to Influenza A subtype H3N2, which has been in wide circulation for the past two-three months, causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes.

Here’s what we know about the rise in flu cases:

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said the rise in flu cases is due to the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus. The H3N2, which has been in wide circulation for the past two to three months, causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes, it said.
• The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said the fever goes away at the end of three days, but the cough can persist for up to three weeks. It has advised against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

Fever cases on rise – Avoid Antibiotics pic.twitter.com/WYvXX70iho

— Indian Medical Association (@IMAIndiaOrg) March 3, 2023

“Right now, people start taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav etc, that too without caring for done and frequency and stop it once start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance. Whenever there will be a real use of antibiotics, they will not work due to the resistance,” the IMA said in a statement.

• The viral cases mostly occur in people aged below 15 and above 50 and cause upper respiratory infections along with fever, the IMA said. The association also asked doctors to prescribe only symptomatic treatment and not antibiotics.

The most misused antibiotics are Amoxicillin, Norfloxacin, Oprofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Levofloxacin. These are being used for the treatment of diarrhoea and UTI, IMA said.

• The ICMR has issued dos and don’ts to protect oneself from the infection. The dos include regularly washing hands with soap and water, wearing face masks, and avoiding crowded areas. In cases of fever and bodyache, the ICMR has advised the use of paracetamol.

Influenza A subtype H3N2 is the major cause of current respiratory illness. ICMR-DHR established pan respiratory virus surveillance across 30 VRDLs. Surveillance dashboard is accessible at https://t.co/Rx3eKefgFf@mansukhmandviya @DrBharatippawar @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes pic.twitter.com/3ciCgsxFh0

— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) March 3, 2023

• The dont’s include not to shake hands or use other contact-based greetings, not to self-medicate. The ICMR has said antibiotics and other medicines should only be taken after consulting a doctor.

Credit: India Today

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