CDC issues new H1N1 flu directives for doctors
POSTED September 9, 2009 - 16:32 | POSTED BY Jaspreet Kaur
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on September 9, 2009 - 17:07
But at the same time it warned the general public that most of the people do not require these medicines and they should not expect that the drugs will be made available to them if they are down with the flu.
The latest guidelines have been issued in order to get the maximum advantage out of the two drugs, i.e., Tamiflu and Relenza. The federal authorities do not want an overuse of the drugs.
Also, these directives will help in preventing hoarding and scarcity of the drugs, as was seen earlier when the swine flu broke out during the spring season.
High-risk patients
As of now, it has been seen that almost 70 percent of patients who have been admitted to the hospital for treating the new strain of the virus have conditions like pregnancy, diabetes or emphysema. All these conditions can lead to further complications.
It is people with these symptoms who fall in the high-risk category. It is mostly recommended that they are treated with an antiviral drug if they show signs of flu, said Schuchat.
Prompt medication recommended to “high-risk” patients
The authorities have, in particular, directed the medical practitioners that they should not wait for lab tests before prescribing antivirals to high-risk patients who demonstrate symptoms of flu. This is because the drugs are most effective when taken within 48 hours of illness.
Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was quoted as saying, “We think that [time] window is very important.”
She further added that “the majority of adolescents and adults and most children won’t need antiviral treatment and can be cared for with Mom’s chicken soup at home.”
CDC has also directed the doctors that they can think of prescribing preventive medicines to high-risk patients who have come in contact with someone who is suffering from flu.
But it also added that it is ok for practitioners to keep these patients under observation and prescribe an antiviral only if a fever develops.
