Seasonal influenza may rise, health authorities issue advisory

Jammu, Aug 27: With seasonal respiratory infections, including influenza, likely to increase during the monsoon and winter months, health authorities have urged patients, attendants, visitors and healthcare workers to adopt preventive measures to limit the spread of infection in hospitals.
The advisory, issued in the interest of patient and healthcare-worker safety under the Institutional Infection Prevention and Control Programme at SMVDIME, Kakryal, Reasi, stresses that seasonal influenza, including Influenza A/H1N1, is generally mild and self-limiting in most cases. However, officials said timely recognition of symptoms and appropriate medical care remain important, particularly for vulnerable patients.
According to the advisory, people experiencing fever, cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, body ache, headache, marked fatigue, vomiting or diarrhoea should take precautions before entering a hospital.
“Anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms should wear a well-fitting mask before entering a healthcare facility and inform reception or medical staff about their symptoms,” the advisory states.
Patients and visitors have also been advised to maintain proper cough etiquette, clean their hands frequently and avoid unnecessary contact with vulnerable patients. Attendants have been asked to restrict their presence to those essential for patient care and avoid unnecessary movement between different patient-care areas.
Health authorities have particularly cautioned against visiting vulnerable patients while suffering from an acute respiratory illness.
The advisory also highlights the dangers of self-medication with antibiotics for flu-like symptoms. Since influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics do not treat the infection.
People have been advised not to take medicines such as azithromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefixime or other antibiotics merely because they have fever, cough or other influenza-like symptoms.
“Antibiotics should be used only when a qualified clinician identifies an appropriate indication,” the advisory states, warning that unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
Healthcare professionals have been asked to follow standard precautions, use appropriate personal protective equipment, maintain hand hygiene, identify respiratory symptoms at an early stage and follow established triage and isolation protocols.
The advisory also calls for adequate ventilation, regular environmental cleaning and appropriate restriction or cohorting of visitors and patients wherever clinically required. Healthcare workers experiencing significant occupational exposure have been advised to report it and seek timely medical evaluation if symptoms develop.
While most seasonal influenza infections are not severe, health authorities have urged people not to ignore danger signs.
Among adults, difficulty in breathing, rapid or laboured breathing, chest pain or persistent pressure, bluish lips or fingers, coughing blood, confusion, unusual drowsiness, seizures, persistent vomiting or inability to take fluids and rapid deterioration have been listed as warning signs requiring urgent medical attention.
For children, inability to feed or drink, marked lethargy, fast or difficult breathing, grunting, severe chest retractions, bluish discolouration and convulsions have been identified as red flags.
The advisory further stresses the importance of seasonal influenza vaccination as a preventive measure, particularly for healthcare personnel and people at increased risk of complications, in accordance with public-health recommendations.
Health officials said prevention of respiratory infections inside hospitals cannot be achieved by healthcare workers alone and requires cooperation from patients, attendants and visitors.
The advisory summarises the preventive message through five key measures: wear a mask when experiencing respiratory symptoms, clean hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid taking antibiotics without medical advice, and seek medical care promptly when danger signs appear.
“A safe hospital is a shared responsibility,” the advisory said, emphasising that healthcare professionals, patients, attendants and visitors all have a role in protecting vulnerable patients and the healthcare workforce. (KNO)