Srinagar: As many as five deaths have occurred due to swine flu and there is constant increase in the number of patients visiting hospitals in Kashmir, which is witnessing a dry cold spell for past one month.
Hospital sources said five deaths have so far been reported due to swine flu. There is increase in number of such cases which is becoming a cause of concern for the people of valley.
Meanwhile, doctors advised patients suffering with the disease not to resort to antibiotics but use of antiviral drugs which is an important weapon to fight this season’s flu.
“Doctors in Kashmir valley prescribe antibiotics for swine flu even though it is caused by a virus against which antibiotics have no effect”, said Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK).
President DAK and flu expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said swine flu is a viral infection that is not helped by taking antibiotics.
“Despite antibiotics do not works against flu, clinicians continue to dole out unnecessary antibiotics for flu patients,” he said
He said often people go to a doctor with runny nose, sore throat or cough and walk away with a prescription for antibiotics. They have a misconception that antibiotics help get over flu more quickly.
He said use of antibiotics for flu is not only “inappropriate” but also puts patients at risk for antibiotic-resistant infections.
“Not only the improper use has helped the microbes to evolve into resistant bugs, but patients are needlessly put at risk of serious adverse effects of antibiotics,” Dr Nisar said.
He added misuse of antibiotics wipes out body’s good bacteria that are contributing to the rise in chronic conditions like obesity, asthma and cancer.
Dr Nisar was critical of those who themselves ask for antibiotics and said while antiviral medications provide life-saving benefits to flu patients, they are not used. “Antiviral drugs prevent the risk of serious complications and reduce deaths.” he added.
“A large meta-analysis showed that early treatment with antiviral medications reduced the risk of death by 60 per cent” he said and added antiviral shorten the duration of illness and make flu milder. Treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that can result in a hospital stay.
“Flu antiviral work best for treatment when they are started within two days of getting sick, but starting them later can still be helpful,” he said.
While talking to Kashmir Press Service, Medical Superintendent, SKIMS Dr Amin Tabish said that there is no need to get panic as of now and N1H1 is curable when treated on time.
He further said that there were 13 positive cases of H1N1 and out them five people died and six people have been kept in isolation ward and three people have been discharged.
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