Spotty weather takes toll

Mumbai: For the past two weeks, around 500 patients are being treated daily with influenza at the outpatient department (OPD) of the state-run JJ Hospital. The patients have been complaining of shivers with fever, cold and cough and body ache. There is an increase in such cases due to a fluctuation in temperature and the climate, which sees intermittent rain as well as sunshine, said Dr Wiqar Shaikh, head of department, internal medicine, JJ Hospital.

According to an infectious disease specialist, Dr Om Shrivastav, an airborne influenza strain is affecting some people and self-medication should be avoided. The number of Mumbaikars who have caught cold and are suffering from cough has shot up as the level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) has gone up in the air we breathe, thanks to temperature fluctuation, he said.

The trend has worsened after the recent spell of rains. City doctors have been getting lots of cases of viral infection daily in the last couple of weeks.

Talking to The Asian Age, Dr Shaikh said, “The fluctuation in temperature results in viral fever with the nose and airways inflamed, causing congestion and viral infections in the body. Every day more than 100 patients are coming with the same problem.”

“Such symptoms result in uneasiness and cause fever and body ache. Due to change in climate there are lots of allergens present in the air causing harm to our body,” he said.

Symptoms of viral infections include muscle pain, weakness, throat pain, cold and cough and fever and it takes around two weeks for the patient to recover, doctors said. Dr Shrivastav said there has been an increase in the number of children, aged one to six, who have gone down with viral fever due to respiratory tract infection.

Dr Shrivastav said, “It is a type of influenza, which is airborne. In such cases avoid self-medication and consult doctors immediately.” He added, “Fever, vomiting and body pain are the symptoms for this viral flu. In severe cases, it may also affect the liver and kidneys if not caught in time. There is a blood test for people to know if it is leptospirosis, malaria or dengue.”