PANAJI
The trend of rising cases of viral illnesses with symptoms like coughs, colds and fevers persists in the State, and health professionals are worried that the common practice among Goans to self-medicate, including the careless use of antibiotics, could have serious complications.
Some general medicine practitioners in the city have confirmed a higher number of patients reporting to them with these illnesses. In some cases, the illness begins with diarrhoea followed by cold and fever, which last for a couple of days. The doctors attributed the trend to factors linked to the bouts of rain with the monsoon ebbing.
The Directorate of Health Services has intensified its awareness initiative on preventive measures to be taken, since the phenomenon is virus-driven.
Frequent handwashing, wearing masks when unwell, and staying hydrated are some of the measures being advised through the primary health centres across Goa, a senior official said.
Fever, cough, sore throat, headache and body aches are some of the symptoms of the illness.
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has, in parallel, launched an initiative across the country, including Goa, to caution against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav to alleviate the symptoms.
The IMA has said that the overuse of antibiotics to treat cough, cold and nausea is dangerous for anti-microbial resistance and is advising doctors to resort to providing symptomatic treatment rather than prescribing antibiotics.
The IMA's Standing Committee for Anti-Microbial Resistance has noted that people, once they start feeling better, stop taking the antibiotic medicines without caring to complete the course, which can lead to antibiotic resistance.
"When there will be a real need for use of antibiotics, they will not work due to this resistance," the IMA said, noting that widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to resistance.
