Have you suffered from fever and cough in the past few days or have seen people around complaining about the same? Well, you are not the only one as multiple states and UTs of India are witnessing rise of such cases.
Patients suffering from cough and fever these days are generally because of influenza A strain H3N2. H3N2 is a seasonal flu that circulates in humans and mutates over time.
Children, older adults, and pregnant women are most vulnerable to the disease. It also causes more severe symptoms in high-risk populations such as those with weakened immune systems and patients with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
Similarly, cases of fever and cough are rising in Punjab. Now the question arises what is actually happened and why people are getting sick now-a-days? Continue reading below to know the answer in detail-
Dr. Naresh Batla, PIMS, Head of department of Chest & TB, while talking to True Scoop informed-
"It is just like a normal flu. Every year the pattern of flu changes. This flu is also a viral disease, just like viral fever. But this time, patients suffering from this flu are taking longer to recover. Earlier, patients used to get recover from 3 to 7 days, but this time, it is taking longer time. For example, some patients don’t recover from cough quickly, while others keep experiencing recurring fever and cough in 20 to 30 days."
"Not much tests of COVID are going on. At clinical level, there might be some cases of COVID. Many are also complaining about change in their taste buds. Therefore, overall it is a flu."
"Many times people are not able to differentiate the flu. What we do is get the patient with fever complaint tested. It generally rules out typhoid, dengue, etc. If the patient is not suffering from that then we come to the conclusion of viral disease. Then we ask patients to take less medicines. If suffering from high fever, then take paracetamol. If the patient is suffering from too much cough, then we generally prescribe them antibiotics, else not. We also prescribe Vitamin C so that the body will have resistance."
"If a patient with flu feeling cold, then he or she should sit in the sunlight. It will give you relief."
Dr. Naresh Batla suggested, "If someone is suffering from flu, they should remain in isolation because it gets transmitted from one another. This flu is not like COVID that spreads rapidly."
"The flu has spread rapidly after Punjab Floods are over. Therefore, it is possible that people might be eating adulterated food. Vegetables might have been washed by flood water. I would suggest people to eat home-made food, boil vegetables in warm water, not shake hands, instead do namaste."
"The flu is mostly happening is because you are coming in contact with the infected person. If you are talking, sitting, shaking hands with infected person, this is how it transmits in you. If you are not able breathe properly, then take steam of hot water, take Victim C. If you have too much cough problem, then only take antibiotics," said Dr. Naresh Batla.
"If your health continues to be worse, then you should also get tested, because not every fever is flu. Cases of dengue and typhoid are also raising."
"Yes, saying dengue cannot happen you again if you have been infected once is a myth. It can infect you again," added Dr. Naresh Batla.