Hyderabad: Hyderabad is in flu's grip as the H3N2, a subtype of Influenza - A , continues to spread throughout India, said Dr Naresh Purohit - Advisor, National Communicable Disease Control Programme.

Echoing his concern on the spike in H3N2 cases in the city and its insidious spread across Telangana for the past few days , noted Epidemiologist Dr Purohit told UNl here on Monday that over-the - counter sale of medicines including anti-allergic and paracetamol tablets has increased by nearly 35 percent in last one month.

“H3N2 influenza presents as fever with chills, cough, runny nose, sore throat, body aches and diarrhoea. Even after fever subsides, patients complain of cold and cough for a longer period. It is more severe in older adults and see more hospitalisations than other strains." he said

He revealed that the H3N2 virus affects the throat along with the bronchial tree and this causes bronchial irritation and the patient suffers problems like asthma and breathing difficulties. The cough is persistent due to an allergy and air pollution can also be considered a factor in this.

Dr.Purohit, who is also the Executive member of the Federation of Hospital Administrator, averred that the ICMR and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have advised patients against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics or any other medication without consulting a doctor.

“The gullible populations who are at risk of severe infection and death are patients with other diseases such as kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, elderly with comorbidities like heart and kidney problems. The surge is further increased with social events, travel and other activities. The patient is infectious in the first 3-4 days of infection. Once the infection travels to the lungs the patients develop breathing difficulty and chest pain,” he added

The renowned Infectious disease Expert advised paracetamol for fever and bodyache and plenty of fluids

"People start taking antibiotics like azithromycin and amoxiclav that too without caring for dose and frequency and stop it once they start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance," he cautioned

Shaking hands or using other forms of contact greeting should be discouraged and people should put on masks, he pointed out.

(With UNI inputs)