New Covid-like virus infecting humans: check symptoms, treatment, other details
Hundreds of residents of Delhi and neighboring cities are suffering from a new kind of virus, according to doctors. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said people today are reeling from persistent fever, cold, cough, headache and symptoms of respiratory distress. The medical authority has clarified that the symptoms are not related to the seasonal flu. Seasonal fever will last five to seven days, it said.
ICMR experts have suggested that the symptoms are due to Influenza A subtype H3N2. The medical agency said the H3N2 has been in widespread circulation for the past two to three months and is more deadly than other viruses. According to Dr. Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr. Dangs Lab, more cases of H3N2 influenza are being reported compared to H1N1. The H3N2 causes more hospitalizations and respiratory problems than the other subtypes.
In addition, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a cautionary advice against the H3N2 virus and directed doctors and pharmacists to avoid prescribing antibiotics to H3N2 patients.
The IMA said: “At the moment, people are starting to take antibiotics such as azithromycin and amoxiclav, etc., also without worrying about frequency and frequency, and stop as soon as they start to feel better. This needs to be stopped because it leads to antibiotic resistance… are a real use of antibiotics, they won’t work because of the resistance”.
It added that amoxicillin, norfloxacin, oprofloxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin are the most commonly abused antibiotics. Such drugs are often used to treat diarrhea and urinary tract infection (URI).
H3N2 Symptoms:
Fever, respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose, body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea are some of the most common symptoms of the H3N2 virus.
Viral cases have also skyrocketed due to air pollution, according to the Indian Medical Association. The infection mainly targets people under the age of 15 and over the age of 50 and causes upper respiratory tract infections along with fever.
H3N2 Treatment and Prevention:
An expert told Livemint’s sister publication Hindustan Times that children and adults with the H3N2 virus can be treated with oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir and baloxavir, but it is important to seek advice from a doctor.
In addition, to prevent such serious respiratory infections, an annual flu vaccination should be obtained.
People should wear a mask in crowded places to avoid infection. Regular hand washing should be taken seriously.
If you have symptoms, wear a mask and avoid crowded places, cover mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, take plenty of fluids, avoid touching eyes and nose, and take paracetamol for fever and body aches