Indian Medical Association advises to ‘avoid antibiotics’ amid surge in fever cases

The agency continued by stating that seasonal colds and coughs are frequently experienced from October to February due to influenza and other infections.“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. Antibiotics ought to be avoided because the fever is brought on by a virus, claims Dr. Satish Koul, director of Internal Medicine at the Fortis Memorial Research Center in Gurgaon. He emphasised that people shouldn’t take over-the-counter antibiotics for fever until a doctor recommends them after an examination because doing so raises the likelihood of multi-drug resistance bacteria emerging in the population.

He added that the optimal course of action is to get enough sleep, drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, and take paracetamol to lower the fever.

Dr. Koul added that since the flu is a preventable illness, everyone, especially those over 65 who are elderly, should get vaccinated. Also, he added, “those who are susceptible, such as those with comorbidities, diabetes, hypertension, and other respiratory ailments, should ideally take this vaccination every year to prevent any disastrous outcomes of this influenza virus.

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