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Expert asks patients with flu-like symptoms to avail of telemedicine consultations

Philippines | National

Expert asks patients with flu-like symptoms to avail of telemedicine consultations

By Gabriela Baron

An infectious disease expert on Tuesday, Jan. 4, asked patients experiencing flu-like symptoms to avail of telemedicine consultations to avoid hospital crowding amid rising coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

(NOEL B. PABALATE / MANILA BULLETIN)

In an interview over TeleRadyo, Dr. Edsel Salvana associated the prevalence of influenza cases in the Philippines with the flu season.

"Ang problema talaga flu season talaga so magsasabay-sabay talaga, di lang COVID. Important ang symptomatic relief pero pag nahihirapana na huminga at mababa na ang oxygenation kailangan na talagang magpasuri na sa doctor (The problem is that it's really flu season so flu and COVID-19 will coexist at the same time. Symptomatic relief is important by when you have difficulty breathing and oxygenation is low, you really need to see a doctor)," Salvana.

"Pero kung mild lang naman ang symptoms, pwedeng mag-teleconsult para di ma-crowd ang hospitals (However, if the symptoms are mild, you can teleconsult so that hospitals will not be crowded)," he added.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health assured that there is no ongoing shortage of paracetamol and other drugs for flu-like symptoms.

Meanwhile, Salvana said it should be no problem for pharmacies to restock their supplies of over-the-counter drugs for cough and colds.

Related Tags

covid-19 Telemedicine

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