Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 11: Men-tioning anti virals as important countermeasures against influenza, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today urged the medicos’ of Valley to prescribe antiviral drugs to flu patients.
Terming these antiviral drugs as “critical tool to combat influenza”, the president of DAK and flu expert, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said the early use of antiviral medicines provide life saving benefits to flu patients.
“Clinicians should prescribe antiviral drugs to influenza patients as early as possible and should not wait for the results of testing. Antiviral treatment is recommended for any patient with confirmed or suspected influenza who is hospitalized or has severe progressive illness and for outpatients who are at risk for developing complications from influenza,” he said.
The DAK president said the clinical trials and observational data show that early antiviral treatment shortens the duration of illness and reduces the risk of complications. “Early treatment of hospitalized patients can reduce death and can shorten the duration of hospitalization,” Dr Nisar said.
A large meta-analysis conducted across 38 countries and involving more than 29,000 patients showed that early treatment with antivirals reduced the risk of death by 60%, he said adding that the antiviral flu medications save lives but they are unfortunately under prescribed.
He said the antibiotics do not have activity against viruses and clinicians must know that antiviral drugs work and work efficiently.
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