According to doctors, the viruses that the recent abrupt temperature changes have activated may continue to be active for another two weeks. Once Covid has been ruled out, some people are tested for viruses, but experts say that most people have already been exposed to the common ones that become active at this time of year.
Raipur: A wave of viruses has left thousands of people in Kolkata ill with symptoms similar to the Covid virus, like fever, a persistent cough, body aches, diarrhoea, and lung infections.
According to doctors, the viruses activated by the abrupt temperature changes may continue to be active for another two weeks. Once Covid has been ruled out, some people are tested for viruses, but experts say that most people have already been exposed to the common ones that become active at this time of year. This time, a persistent cough has been added to the symptoms, necessitating the prescription of antibiotics by doctors.
According to doctors, there has been a significant increase in rhinos, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, and influenza viruses. They noted that it is challenging to identify a virus without performing a test. However, they claimed that very few have tested positive for Covid.
“Although no one has tested positive at our hospital over the past two weeks, the symptoms this time are similar to Covid. Adenovirus with symptoms similar to Covid has been found in some children. It can become serious when it invades the lungs in some circumstances. Most people have been afflicted with rhino and the influenza strains that have been causing fever for four to five days,”said Bhaskar Narayan Chowdhury, a microbiologist at Peerless Hospital.
According to internal medicine consultant Joydeep Ghosh of Fortis Hospital, many fever patients have an upper respiratory infection. “The most frequent signs have been fever and a bad cough. Instead of a fever, a persistent cough necessitates the prescription of antibiotics. Although Covid has not been found, the symptoms are close by and worrying patients, ” he further added.
According to intensivist Sauren Panja at the RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS), mild fever and a bad cough have been the most prevalent symptoms this season. “Over the past week, upper respiratory infections caused by rhinoviruses and influenza virus variants have occurred more frequently. Virus reproduction is aided by temperature variation. Uncontrolled antibiotic use has resulted in loose motion after the fever has subsided, ” claimed Panja.
Arindam Biswas, a consultant in internal medicine, advised using paracetamol and anti-allergic medications as needed. Some of the cases have been extremely serious, pointing to a mutated strain of the flu.
According to Panja, most viruses cause similar symptoms that go away in three to five days. The elderly and children under 12 are more prone to bacterial infections while experiencing viral fever. “Without early detection and antibiotic treatment, a subsidiary infection could be dangerous. Several patients needed hospitalisation to get through the crisis, ” commented Shantanu Ray, a paediatrician.
