Antibiotic abuse causing drug resistance: Experts

Experts say cases of fever are on the rise because of the flu season but consumption of antibiotics to treat it may cause problems.

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Last Updated on October 19, 2024 by The Health Master

Health experts have sounded the alarm bell of likely drug resistance for several antibiotics among people due to its irregular consumption amid the ongoing fear of influenza, particularly the H3N2 virus.

Experts say cases of fever are on the rise because of the flu season but consumption of antibiotics to treat it may cause problems.

“There is a sudden increase in the number of patients having cough, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, body ache and diarrhoea in some cases,” said internal medicine specialist Pradeep Narayan Sahoo.

He said 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 up to three weeks. It is common to have seasonal cold or cough during October to March because of influenza and other viruses. Mostly it occurs in people above the age of 50 and below 15 years,” he said.

“This flu can be done away with symptomatic treatment, there is no need to take antibiotics, but right now, people have adopted the practice of taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav without caring for dose and frequency and stop it once they start feeling better,” said Sahoo.

Another medicine specialist Sobhan Rath is also of similar opinion. He said several other antibiotics are being misused for certain conditions leading to drug resistance among patients. “About 70 per cent of the diarrhoea cases reported now is viral diarrhoea for which antibiotics are not required but they are being prescribed by doctors, which is unnecessary,” Rath said.

Amid the fear of influenza, several drug stores in the city have also reported high demand for different kinds of antibiotics.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a high demand for antibiotics like Azithromycin and Ivermectin. We have been witnessing the demand for the drugs going high again now,” said Nirakar Mohapatra, a drug store owner in Bomikhal.

Several other drug stores in the city have also been witnessing a huge demand for antibiotics like:

“People are coming both with and without prescriptions,” said Partasarathi Ojha, a drug store owner in Bapuji Nagar.

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