H3N2 influenza: IMA raises concerns over indiscriminate antibiotic use for treating fever, cold & cough

The IMA has also reported that viral cases have increased due to air pollution, with individuals below 15 or above 50 years of age being the most affected. The fever typically subsides within three days, but the cough can persist for up to three weeks, as stated by the IMA's Standing Committee for Anti-Microbial Resistance.

"Right now, people start taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav etc, that too without caring for done and frequency and stop it once start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance. Whenever there will be a real use of antibiotics, they will not work due to the resistance," the IMA said in a statement.

"We have already seen widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during Covid and this too has led to resistance. It is necessary to diagnose whether the infection is bacterial or not before prescribing antibiotics," it added.