Prescription of flu Txs rise with the spread of influenza A

Pharmacies busy unpacking the return supply

is spreading among elementary, middle, and high school students...adult patients also increased

Adeno, rhino, parainfluenza viruses, and pneumonia are also spreading

Pharmacies are busy dispensing treatments due to the resurgence of influenza A, which has become prevalent again after December last year.

 

Although a flu outbreak in March, the start of the new school year, is common, due to the lifting of the mask-wearing regulation and the varying temperature in the spring season, the adeno, rhino, paraviruses, and pneumonia are spreading at the same time, and turning into a full-blown epidemic.

 

Flu prescriptions have been increasing with the spread of influenza A

According to the pharmaceutical industry, prescriptions for flu treatments (oseltamivir phosphate) have been increasing with the resurgence of influenza A.

 

In addition, the number of patients visiting hospitals for colds and high fevers has also increased, leading to an increased number of prescriptions and dispensing for those patients.

 

Pharmacist A who owns a pharmacy near an otolaryngology hospital said, “We started to receive flu prescriptions one by one since last week, and the number of prescriptions has been increasing.

 

There are cases where 4-5 students from one class is being diagnosed with the flu.

 

So we are using the flu treatments that I had set out to one side to return.” According to the pharmacist, patients are being prescribed oseltamivir alone or with cold medicines.

 

The pharmacist said, “Although some of the suspension powders are out of stock, we have stockpiled some drugs during the flu epidemic last year, and we also have 30mg and 45mg formulations in stock, so I don’t think there will be a stock shortage situation.” Another pharmacist, B, said, “This season’s flu is characterized by chills, headache, muscle pain, cough, sore throat, etc.

 

along with high fever.

 

I think respiratory diseases are spreading due to the lifting of the mask-wearing regulation and the varying temperature in the spring season.

 

In addition to the flu, the adeno, rhino, parainfluenza viruses, and pneumonia are also spreading.” According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the proportion of suspected influenza patients (patients with suspected symptoms) was 13.2 per 1,000 outpatients, which is an increase from 11.7 in the previous week, and 2.7 times higher than the epidemic standard of 4.9.

 

Also by pathogen detection rates, 4.9% of the patients were detected with influenza, 16.4% with rhinovirus, and 10.4% with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

 

Among hospital inpatients with acute respiratory infections, 31.9% were reported with rhinovirus, 27.9 with RSV, and 15.9% with parainfluenza virus.

 

New patients with severe acute respiratory infections also increased, with influenza at 3.5% and pneumonia at 52.1%.

 

Care Insight (www.careinsight.co.kr), an on-site pharmacy data analysis service, analyzed the number of flu prescriptions from March 26th to April 1st this year and found that the amount increased by 3.3% compared to the previous week.

 

Pharmacist B said, “Students from the same class are leaving early or submitting a leave of absence due to the flu, and the wait time at otolaryngology clinics increased to exceed an hour in general.” Due to this spread of respiratory diseases in schools, local governments have been recommending influenza vaccination to children and pregnant women "Children that go to school as well as pregnant women who may have an increased risk of complications such as premature birth and childbirth of underweight infants with infection, should be vaccinated.

 

Children aged 6 months to 13 and pregnant women are eligible for free vaccinations by April 30, therefore, if you are eligible, it’s not too late.

 

Visit a designated medical institution and get vaccinated."