Ahmedabad: The rise in viral infections across the state in June and July led to a corresponding rise in medicine sales. According to data by Pharmarack, the sale of drugs for anti-infective therapy grew by 22% in June-July 2024, whereas those for respiratory ailments went up by 20% compared to the corresponding period last year. The sales of analgesics have also gone up given an increase in cases of fever and body ache.
Heavy rainfall and drastic temperature differences led to a rise in the prevalence of infections, allergies, viral fevers and upper respiratory ailments among people. Antibiotics and medicines for respiratory illnesses are some of the commonly administered drugs to treat these symptoms, resulting in an increase in their sales.
In Gujarat, Rs 90 crore worth of drugs for treating respiratory illnesses such as flu and cough were retailed across the state in June-July this year compared to Rs 75 crore during the same period last year. Similarly, anti-infective medicines worth Rs 168 crore were retailed in the state from Rs 139 crore during the same period last year, according to Pharmarack’s data.
Explaining the trend, Alpesh Patel, chairperson, Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists’ Association (FGSCDA), said, “The cases of seasonal viral infections saw a sharp rise in the past couple of months. Changing rainfall patterns led to an increase in these infections along with respiratory ailments like cough and throat infections.”
Dr Pravin Garg, a physician, said, “It is clinically difficult to differentiate between viral fever, swine flu and dengue fever. We advise citizens to increase their liquid intake,” he said.
Dr Dhiren Mehta, a physician, “It is okay to have paracetamol for symptomatic treatment , but do not take antibiotics without medical advice.”
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