Why are Flu cases with severe symptoms on rise in India? Know all about H3N2, the new wily virus

India has been witnessing a steady rise in the number of flu cases with symptoms including high grade fever and persistent cough for the past two-three months. According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) experts, the mounting infections are due to Influenza A subtype H3N2, which lasts between five to seven days.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Influenza A subtype H3N2 include cough, sore throat, nausea, body ache and diarrhoea. The flu could also lead to hospitalisation, with some cases escalating to requiring ICU admission. In severe cases, reports citing doctors said, patients developed pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Elderly people, children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to getting infected.

How do we prevent it?

Scientists who keep a close watch on ailments caused by respiratory viruses through the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories network, have suggested a list of Dos and Don'ts for people to follow to protect themselves from contracting the virus.

The research body advises people to

• wash hands regularly,
• wear face masks in crowded areas,
• avoid touching their face,
• cover their nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, and
• stay hydrated.

In case of fever or headache, the ICMR advises taking paracetamol.

Can antibiotics cure influenza?

The ICMR has issued guidelines warning against the use of antibiotics for conditions such as low-grade fever and viral bronchitis while advising doctors to follow a timeline while prescribing them.

The fever goes away at the end of three days but the cough can persist for up to three weeks, the IMA's Standing Committee for Anti-Microbial Resistance said. Viral cases have also surged due to air pollution, it said, adding that it mostly occurs in people aged below 15 and above 50 and causes upper respiratory infections along with fever. The association also asked doctors to prescribe only symptomatic treatment and not antibiotics.

"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 most misused antibiotics are Amoxicillin, Norfloxacin, Oprofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Levofloxacin. These are being used for the treatment of diarrhoea and UTI, it said. "We have already seen widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during Covid and this too has led to resistance. It is necessary to diagnose whether the infection is bacterial or not before prescribing antibiotics," it said.