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Viral fever on the rise in city
Express News Service
First Published : 11 Nov 2008 04:02:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Nov 2008 10:54:03 AM IST
CHENNAI: A suspected new strain of virus is on the prowl in the city, causing a spurt in viral infections as a ?flu-epidemic? sparing not even infants, who are generally protected by the mother?s immunity.
Over the past week, there has been a sudden spurt in the number of viral infections being reported in the city.
Fever, coughs, colds and running noses have afflicted most residents and hospitals are gearing up for a variety of seasonal infections.
What is unusual though, is that even infants below the age of one have not been spared from these infections. ?We usually don?t see infections in infants because they are protected by the mother?s immunity for around a year. But this time around, they seem to be affected as well, leading us to suspect some new strain of virus,?? said Dr Sharada Suresh, director of the Institute of Child Health, Egmore.
The Institute has seen a 15 per cent rise in infections in infants below the age of one and a general 1/3 increase in the number of patients coming in and getting admitted.
Malaria too seems to be on the rise, with the Government General Hospital (GGH) recording 45 cases last month.
Most hospitals have started a separate fever clinic to cater to the seasonal spurt, which has seen a 40 per cent increase in the influx of patients at many hospitals.
?We see around 120 cases per day at our clinic,?? an official at the GGH said.
Doctors suspect a flu epidemic, as most cases seem to have the usual symptoms of fever, sore throats, running noses and headaches for about a week, irrespective of the area or age group.
While officials at the Corporation are telling residents not to panic, some private hospitals in the city have seen a rise in cases of dengue. Mehta Hospital saw five cases last month, while two cases were reported at a private nursing home in Tirovottriyur on Monday.
?These are seasonal cases but there has been a decrease in the number of infections from last year,?? said Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni, adding that several preventive measures were being taken, including fumigation, clearing up of stagnant water and setting up medical camps.
So far, 52,000 people in the city have been given prophylactic medication this month. The number of reported infections is down to 7,200, from 8,400 cases last year, he said.
Doctors are warning residents to boil water and take other precautionary measures and consult a doctor in case of symptoms.
Viral fever on the rise in city
Express News Service
First Published : 11 Nov 2008 04:02:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Nov 2008 10:54:03 AM IST
CHENNAI: A suspected new strain of virus is on the prowl in the city, causing a spurt in viral infections as a ?flu-epidemic? sparing not even infants, who are generally protected by the mother?s immunity.
Over the past week, there has been a sudden spurt in the number of viral infections being reported in the city.
Fever, coughs, colds and running noses have afflicted most residents and hospitals are gearing up for a variety of seasonal infections.
What is unusual though, is that even infants below the age of one have not been spared from these infections. ?We usually don?t see infections in infants because they are protected by the mother?s immunity for around a year. But this time around, they seem to be affected as well, leading us to suspect some new strain of virus,?? said Dr Sharada Suresh, director of the Institute of Child Health, Egmore.
The Institute has seen a 15 per cent rise in infections in infants below the age of one and a general 1/3 increase in the number of patients coming in and getting admitted.
Malaria too seems to be on the rise, with the Government General Hospital (GGH) recording 45 cases last month.
Most hospitals have started a separate fever clinic to cater to the seasonal spurt, which has seen a 40 per cent increase in the influx of patients at many hospitals.
?We see around 120 cases per day at our clinic,?? an official at the GGH said.
Doctors suspect a flu epidemic, as most cases seem to have the usual symptoms of fever, sore throats, running noses and headaches for about a week, irrespective of the area or age group.
While officials at the Corporation are telling residents not to panic, some private hospitals in the city have seen a rise in cases of dengue. Mehta Hospital saw five cases last month, while two cases were reported at a private nursing home in Tirovottriyur on Monday.
?These are seasonal cases but there has been a decrease in the number of infections from last year,?? said Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni, adding that several preventive measures were being taken, including fumigation, clearing up of stagnant water and setting up medical camps.
So far, 52,000 people in the city have been given prophylactic medication this month. The number of reported infections is down to 7,200, from 8,400 cases last year, he said.
Doctors are warning residents to boil water and take other precautionary measures and consult a doctor in case of symptoms.