The IMA recommends physicians to forgo prescribing antibiotics for seasonal flu in light of the increase in virus cases

As H3N2 virus cases continue to rise, the Indian Medical Association on Friday urged physicians and healthcare providers nationwide to refrain from prescribing antibiotics for seasonal fever, colds, and cough.

The medical organisation published a notice about the news on each of its social media pages.

Seasonal illness will last between five and seven days, according to the IMA Standing Committee on Anti-Microbial Resistance's warning. The notice went on to say that while the fever goes gone after three days, the cough can last for up to three weeks.

The majority of those affected are over 50 and under 15 years old the notice added that air pollution is one of the precipitating causes, adding that some individuals develop upper respiratory infections along with fever. Doctors were instructed by the medical community to administer only symptomatic care; medicines were not necessary. In addition, it instructed people to begin taking antibiotics like azithromycin and amoxiclav without regard to dosage or frequency but to cease as soon as they began to feel better.

Once they feel better, people should cease taking the antibiotics because continuing to do so breeds resistance. Other antibiotics are being used incorrectly for specific diseases, leading to patient resistance. For instance, the notice added that 70% of cases of diarrhea are viral diagnoses, for which antibiotics are not necessary but are still prescribed by physicians.

As stated in the notification, amoxicillin, norfloxacin, oprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin are the antibiotics that are most frequently abused. These are employed in the treatment of UTI and diarrhea. It is essential to determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral before prescribing antibiotics as extensive use of anthromycin and ivermectin during Covid has also resulted in resistance. Additionally, it counselled people to stay away from congested areas and to exercise restraint and self-control in order to prevent infection. IMA recommended in its notice to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene and get immunized.