translated from Spanish: IMSS warns of self-medication for viral respiratory diseases

Michoacán.- Faced with the increase of viral respiratory infections, other than COVID-19, due to the drop in temperature in the pre-winter season, the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Michoacán called on the population entitled to avoid self-medication, especially with antibiotics.
Family physician Alejandro López Soria, attached to family medicine unit (UMF) No. 80 in Morelia, specified that the use of antibiotics is aimed at attacking bacterial infections, that is, to limit the growth of certain microorganisms that are sensitive to these substances.
“Don’t confuse a bacterial infection with a viral picture like the flu, whose treatments are totally different,” he said.
Therefore, he recommended avoiding self-medication with any drug, unless the prescription is available, especially antibiotics, since the tendency of the population, he added, is that, in the face of a dry cough or presence of nasal flow, for example, some kind of antibiotic is administered on its own.
He noted that the increase in patients with respiratory infections was due to the decrease in the pre-winter ambient temperature, for example, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, rhinopharyngitis, among others, in which antibiotic intake was required, but with a prescription, because they were bacterial infections.
It specified that in the case of COVID-19, which despite being a serious viral respiratory condition, suspicious patients are received in the respiratory module of FMU, as long as they are not serious tables requiring hospitalization.
It stressed that, from the entrance of any clinic in the institution, there was a filter that determined, where appropriate, the suspected picture of severe respiratory infection such as COVID-19, to channel the person to the respective module for their particular treatment, where timely follow-up is given.
In view of this, the doctor López Soria clarified that the co-responsibility of the rightholder population must also be part of the action of the same, since the prevention measures must continue, given the uptick that may occur in the number of cases at the arrival of the winter season, from December to March.
It recommended that, in the face of both viral and bacterial respiratory diseases, it should avoid going to crowded places, as well as sudden changes in temperature, and choose to wear thermal clothing, carry water covers and apply antibacterial gel if it is not possible to wash your hands with soap and water.
Citrus intake is also important, in order to strengthen the immune system, the specialist concluded.

Original source in Spanish