Temperature rise triggers viral attacks with flu, cough

Raipur

: A spate of viruses has laid thousands of Kolkatans low with Covid-like symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, body ache, diarrhoea and lung infection.

The sudden temperature fluctuation over the last one week has triggered the viruses that may remain active for a fortnight more, say doctors. While a few people are tested for viruses once Covid has been ruled out, most of the people have been struck by the common ones that turn active at this time of the year, say experts. An addition to the symptoms this time has been an obstinate cough, forcing doctors to prescribe antibiotics.

Rhino virus, human meta-pneumo virus, adeno virus and influenza viruses have seen a major spurt, said doctors who pointed out that it is difficult to identify a virus unless a test is done. But very few, they said, have tested positive for Covid.

"The symptoms this time are close to Covid, though none have tested positive at our hospital over the last fortnight. Some children were detected with adeno virus that has symptoms close to Covid. In some cases, it infiltrates the lungs and could turn serious. Most others have been struck by rhino and the variants of influenza that have been causing fever for four-five days," said Peerless Hospital microbiologist, Bhaskar Narayan Chowdhury.

A significant number of fever patients are suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, said Fortis Hospital's internal medicine consultant Joydeep Ghosh. "Fever accompanied by a severe cough has been the most common symptoms so far. Rather than the fever, it is the cough that is refusing to go, forcing us to prescribe antibiotics. While Covid has not been detected, the symptoms are close to it and leaving patients worried," he said.

Mild fever and severe cough have been the common symptoms this season, according to RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) intensivist, Sauren Panja. "Upper respiratory tract infection, triggered by rhino virus and the variants of the influenza virus, has been striking frequently over the last one week. Temperature fluctuation is a reason for it helps viruses multiply. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has been leading to loose motion after the fever is subsiding," said Panja.

Internal medicine consultant, Arindam Biswas, said, "Paracetamol and anti-allergic drugs, if necessary, should be used." Some of the cases have been very severe, indicating a mutated version of influenza, he added.

The common viruses trigger similar symptoms that recede in three-five days, according to Panja.

Those aged above 65 and below 12 are susceptible to bacterial infections while suffering from viral fever. "A subsidiary infection could be dangerous unless it is detected early and treated with antibiotics. Many people have required hospitalization to tide over the crisis period," said paediatrician Shantanu Ray.