Changing climate sends Mumbai to sick bay

Mumbai: With fluctuating mercury levels, more Mumbaikars are complaining of cough, cold, fever and upper respiratory tract infections, said doctors.

Dr Om Srivastava, infectious diseases’ specialist with the civic-run Kasturba Hospital, said that he sees nearly 20 to 30 people every week suffering from viral fever, bronchitis and conjunctivitis.

“These days, I am seeing more patients with such type of infections and the process of treating these infections is taking one or two weeks, as compared to the cases that we were witnessing a month ago,” he said. According to him, till last month, there were around 10 to 15 patients every week suffering from these illnesses.

“A plausible explanation for this could be the antigenic shift in viruses, where the surface of the virus undergoes a minimal change. This is a natural phenomenon,” he added.

According to doctors, there is also an increase in cases of dehydration coupled with acute gastroenteritis, because of people consuming contaminated water.

Medical superintendent Dr Sanjay Surase said that he witnesses about 10 to 20 cases of dehydration per day. Of these, at least two patients need to be hospitalised for administration of intravenous fluids while the rest are treated in the outpatients department.

“Usually in this season, we find a surge in patients with upper respiratory tract infections. We are seeing scores of patients with viral fever, runny nose, cough, dehydration and vomiting,” Dr Surase said.

“However, not many have needed hospitalisation. Many patients from nearby slums come to the hospital complaining of loose motions,” said Dr Surase.

Doctors have advised people to maintain hygiene and avoid eating unhealthy food from roadside stalls. People must consume lots of fluids and at least three to four litres of water every day.