Uniform advice on treatment of flu

A 24-member committee has reportedly finalized and submitted a set of uniform guidelines to the Directorate of Health so that hospitals, doctors and health workers countrywide may be relieved of indecision and confusion with regard to treating swine flu patients. Despite the fact that sensible health professionals have been trying to reassure the public over the media that there is little cause for panic -- that H1N1 is actually milder than most flu-like illnesses, that it lasts only a week or so and is therefore self-limiting -- people seem to be frightened beyond reason. What needs to be tackled more urgently therefore is the swine flu phobia more than the virus itself. This clearly calls for inputs from behavioural scientists and medical sociologists as well .
Given this situation, the committee has shown some sagacity in stressing prevention, first and foremost, through extra-cautious hygienic practices like hand-washing, sneezing and coughing discreetly, that is, by covering the nose and mouth. Self-quarantine has also been advised when afflicted with flu-like symptoms and family members too are to be careful to prevent the disease from spreading. As for those with fever or respiratory distress, treatment needs to be prioritized. Special arrangements are to be made in every hospital for such patients but they are to be administered the WHO- recognized drug only after the virus in question is confirmed.
The committee deserves credit for the implicit caution expressed in this regard. After all, the anti-viral drug, osteltamivir phosphate -- the most popular brand, Tamiflu, has been patented and marketed by Roche -- has been reported to have many side effects ranging from nausea and vomiting to disorientation and neuro-psychiatric problems. Many experts think anti-virals are, to all intents and purposes, still experimental. By administering them on 'controlled' patients, health professionals, wittingly or unwittingly, are only helping the research and development wings of the pharmaceutical companies involved. To be fair, clinical trials are needed to develop safe drugs, but in today's world, corporate ethics can hardly be counted on when profiteering becomes the sole motive, and everything and anything is pushed as 'essential', no matter how harmful the consequences. Given such snags, it becomes doubly important for the health authorities in poor countries like Bangladesh to protect un-informed, panicky people from unnecessary expenses on medication or tests. They should reach out to the population at large through various accessible media with self-care tips. The government's various extension services, radio network, non-government outreach programmes etc., could all be harnessed to educate the unaware on what would be best to do in the event of pandemics like H1N1.
Holistic health advocates believe the most rational response would be to improve one's health naturally through a balanced, immunity-boosting diet. Detoxification of the mind and body through a positive lifestyle involving both spiritual and physical enhancement has also been advised. This harks back to mankind's ancient healing systems that today are being increasingly tapped for solutions to all kinds of health crises. In any case, caution about medication ought to be heeded. Many emerging diseases that have flu-like symptoms and make the patient feel miserable with head cold, sore throat, upset tummies, aches and pains and fever, need only supportive treatment -- plenty of liquid energy and rest -- nothing more. If there are no complications due to secondary infections, drugs are not only useless against a viral ailment, but may be downright dangerous in the long run, say dedicated health practitioners. Those who are called upon to attend to flu patients should therefore desist from prescribing unnecessary drugs under pressure from the care seekers to provide instant relief.