Despite an increase in fever occurrences, the Indian Medical Association recommends people to "avoid antibiotics."

Source: The Hindu

The Indian Express

Indian Medical Association informed in a public advisory on March 3, 2023 about a sudden rise in the number of patients having symptoms such as cough, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, fever, body ache and even diarrhea in some cases. It also advised doctors to refrain from prescribing antibiotics, and resorting to symptomatic treatment only. 

“The infection usually lasts for about five to seven days. The fever goes away at the end of three days, but the cough can persist for up to three weeks,” said the medical body, explaining that as per information from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), most of the cases are due to H3N2 influenza virus.

The body added that it is common to have seasonal cold or cough during October to February period, because of influenza and other viruses. “People start taking antibiotics like azithromycin and amoxiclav etc., that too without caring for dose and frequency and stop it once they start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance,” the notice further read.

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The Hindu

IMA has warned against overuse and misuse of antibiotics for viral cases.

In response to the rising cases of cough, cold and nausea across the country, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has advised against an indiscriminate use of antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav to alleviate symptoms. 

The IMA noted that most cases of seasonal cold and cough — resulting in nausea, sore throat, fever, body ache and diarrhoea in some cases — currently being reported are due to the H3N2 influenza virus. While the fever should last up to three days, the cough can continue for three weeks. Viral cases have also surged due to air pollution, they noted. 

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientists have also said Influenza A subtype H3N2 is responsible for the persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by fever, in India for the past two months, reported PTI. 

The H3N2 subtype notably causes more hospitalisation than other variants. Antibiotics for seasonal colds are ineffective; their overuse and misuse can result in antibiotic resistance which can make bacterial infections a public health threat. 

There is a trend where physicians prescribe antibiotics despite patients not exhibiting relevant symptoms, the IMA said.

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Zee News

The Indian Medical Association(IMA) on Friday advised people and medical practitioners to avoid the prescription of antibiotics to the increasing patients of with seasonal fever, cold & cough. 

In a notice shared on Twitter, IMA said that is a sudden spike in fever cases  in India and most of these cases are of Influenza A subtype H3N2. The people down with this infection are having sysmptoms of cough, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, fever, body ache, and diarrhoea.

It lasts usually for about five to seven days. The notice stated that the fever goes away at the end of three days, but the cough can persist for up to three weeks. "It is common to have seasonal cold or cough during October to February period, because of influenza and other viruses. 

Mostly it occurs in people above the age of 50 and below 15 years. Poepl develop upper respiratory along with fever. Air pollution is one of the precipitating factors," the notice said. 

The IMA asked medical practioners to only give symptomatic treatment and avoid prescribing antibiotics to patients. IMA warned that unneccessary usage of antibiotics should be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance. 

It said that this medicine will stop working when there is a real of it. Citing example of diarrhoea it said, 70% of cases are viral diarrhoea for which antibiotics are not needed but doctors are still prescribing it.

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