FROM NOW, NO ANTIBIOTICS FOR COMMON COUGH & COLD

Webdesk, TNI New Delhi, 25th January, 2016: In a straight way decision the premier medical body IMA have given a directive to its members (doctors) prohibiting prescribing antibiotics for the adults for common ARTI (Acute Respiratory Tract Infections). These included the common cold, bronchitis, sore throat or sinus infections. According to the president of IMA, Dr. S. S. Agarwal, “Over 50 percent of antibiotic prescriptions may be unnecessary or inappropriate in the outpatient setting,”. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem in Indian Medical scenario and maximum of them are caused by the inappropriate use of antibiotics for ARTI, he added. Alternatively, the IMA has issued a set of guidelines according to which doctors should communicate to their patients suffering from a common cold that symptoms can last up to two weeks. Further according to the directives antibiotics can only be prescribed if the symptoms last 10 days till then cough suppressants, expectorants, antihistamines, decongestants, and beta-agonists may be prescribed. In continuation, the directives also said that the antibiotics should be prescribed for a sore throat only if a strep test confirms streptococcal pharyngitis.