Maharashtra: Patients divided into three categories

Mumbai: With the rise in the number of swine flu deaths, the state health department has grouped patients into three categories. While mild influenza symptoms fall in category A, category B includes those who show all the signs of swine flu and test positive for the disease. Category C includes those who have symptoms of category A and B and have to be hospitalised due to a severe form of chest pain, breathlessness and other symptoms.

Dr Om Shrivastav, a consultant for infectious diseases, said those patients who have with mild influenza symptoms fall in category A and they are advised to stay at home in an isolated room.

He said that Category B included those patients who show all the signs of swine flu and test positive for H1N1, and therefore are at high-risk. Mildly ill-children, pregnant women, those older than 65 years, diabetic patients and especially if they have other health related disorders, also fall into the high-risk category. He added that they are treated with Oseltamivir and are advised home confinement. Dr Srivastav said that those patients who have symptoms of category A and B and have to be hospitalised fall in category C.