Times of India
01 September 2010
Hyderabad, India

The downpour over the last one week has triggered a spurt in viral fever cases in the twin cities. City hospitals are recording a steep rise in the number of cases in viral fevers, pneumonia and asthma attacks, due to the dip in temperatures along with malaria cases in considerable numbers, more so in the last 10 days.

Doctors said that patients are coming with complaints of fever, running nose, throat pain, eye congestion, vomiting and upset stomach. According to Dr B S V Manjula, superintendent, Fever Hospital, an approximate 1,000 people with complaints of fevers, cold, cough and malaria among others, are seeking treatment at the state–run hospital on a daily basis. She added that the hospital is getting sporadic cases of cholera as well. As per the data from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, 37 cholera cases have been reported so far in the city this year with 12 cases in August.

Specialists said that the virus finds the humid conditions favourable and viral fever tends to spread faster during monsoon. Hence, it is important to take precautions, they say. "Do not neglect the fever and consult a physician to avoid complications. Certain viral fevers do not subside unless specific treatment is given like in the case of malaria," says Dr Aftab Ahmed, physician, Apollo Hospital. He said that the hospital is seeing malaria and dengue–like viral illnesses intermittently, wherein the symptoms are like that of dengue (such as high fever, body pain and low platelet count) but the fever is viral.

With the change in weather in the wake of heavy rainfall, doctors say dengue related cases may rise if water is allowed to stagnate. Dr R Siddeshwari, head of department (medicine) at Osmania General Hospital (OGH) said that vector–borne diseases like dengue and malaria spread more easily in this season. "Every monsoon, there is a steep rise in cases of viral fevers," she said.

OGH is getting two to three patients with symptoms of malaria and a couple of patients with symptoms of dengue along with 10 cases of viral fevers daily, said Dr Siddeshwari. She said that the hospital is not insisting on confirmatory tests but starting the treatment depending on the symptoms. Not just malaria and dengue but the weather is also conducive for the spread of H1N1 infection as the virus spreads rapidly in cool and damp atmosphere.

While the district health authorities say that the number of swine flu cases have reduced in the last few days, on an average, 10 cases of H1N1 are being reported on a daily basis in the city.

Dos & Don’ts
Boil drinking water Avoid crowded areas Stay away from uncovered street food and juices Clear stagnant water. Change water in the coolers regularly Use mosquito repellents