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Editor, Senior Moderator
KOLKATA: Treatment regime for H1N1 patients in Kolkata should be stricter and use of Tamiflu the only recognized drug for the influenza regulated, feel experts.
Screening of suspects should also be done on an emergency basis if swine flu has to be effectively countered. With the virus now spreading fast, chances of an alteration in its strain could not be ruled out. A mutated H1N1 virus could be drug-resistant.
"At the present rate, scores of patients would be affected in a few weeks. The more the virus spreads and survives in the community, the sooner it will undergo a change. An altered strain could be dangerous as H1N1 is very infectious, though rarely fatal. It should be made sure that Tamiflu is prescribed only to patients who have been confirmed by tests to be swine flu patients," said Barun Roy, virologist and an animal diseases expert.
Though the state health department has issued a guideline restricting the use of the drug, some private clinics and hospitals were prescribing Tamiflu to suspects, it has been alleged. "We have come across patients who have been prescribed the drug even though they were not suffering from H1N1. This could be dangerous in the long run," said virologist Tomonash Bhattacharya.
The priority should be on putting brakes on the spread of the virus. This should begin with the identification of high-risk patients young children and the elderly suffering from multiple disorders or diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, diabetes and cancer. "This group remains more vulnerable since their resistance levels are low. They are more likely to get affected. So, these patients need to be isolated quickly and kept under vigil. Doctors have to make sure that they are given protection against secondary infection," said Roy. Both swine flu patients to die in Kolkata this year were victims of multiple disorders.
Experts pointed out that the stress should be on quick diagnosis. "Swap samples of suspects need to be tested fast. But you can't use Tamiflu indiscriminately. That would hasten mutation of the virus," said Debashish Basu, preventive medicine specialist.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...nt-Tamiflu-useKolkata/articleshow/6234745.cms
Screening of suspects should also be done on an emergency basis if swine flu has to be effectively countered. With the virus now spreading fast, chances of an alteration in its strain could not be ruled out. A mutated H1N1 virus could be drug-resistant.
"At the present rate, scores of patients would be affected in a few weeks. The more the virus spreads and survives in the community, the sooner it will undergo a change. An altered strain could be dangerous as H1N1 is very infectious, though rarely fatal. It should be made sure that Tamiflu is prescribed only to patients who have been confirmed by tests to be swine flu patients," said Barun Roy, virologist and an animal diseases expert.
Though the state health department has issued a guideline restricting the use of the drug, some private clinics and hospitals were prescribing Tamiflu to suspects, it has been alleged. "We have come across patients who have been prescribed the drug even though they were not suffering from H1N1. This could be dangerous in the long run," said virologist Tomonash Bhattacharya.
The priority should be on putting brakes on the spread of the virus. This should begin with the identification of high-risk patients young children and the elderly suffering from multiple disorders or diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, diabetes and cancer. "This group remains more vulnerable since their resistance levels are low. They are more likely to get affected. So, these patients need to be isolated quickly and kept under vigil. Doctors have to make sure that they are given protection against secondary infection," said Roy. Both swine flu patients to die in Kolkata this year were victims of multiple disorders.
Experts pointed out that the stress should be on quick diagnosis. "Swap samples of suspects need to be tested fast. But you can't use Tamiflu indiscriminately. That would hasten mutation of the virus," said Debashish Basu, preventive medicine specialist.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...nt-Tamiflu-useKolkata/articleshow/6234745.cms