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After meningitis, spurt in cases of viral fever

Staff Reporter

`With a 30 per cent increase in patients suffering from the disease, it could well be the next epidemic'

NEW DELHI: While the city grapples with an increase in the number of meningococcal meningitis cases, the changing season has also resulted in a sudden spurt in cases of viral fever.

With a 30 per cent increase in patients coming in with viral fever, physicians warn that this virus could well cause the next epidemic. What is hitting the city hardest is the fact that the virus causing the fever is known to have several strands and has the capacity to mutate in a short span of time.

"Non-responsive to medical treatment, the virus is self-limiting and under normal circumstance should subside within a week. However, in some cases patients also come in with secondary bacterial infection that requires treatment. With Delhi seeing an unusually large difference in day and night temperature and with most people having already packed their woollens, a large number of patients are coming in with viral fever," said Delhi Medical Council member Anil Bansal.

"What is also worrying physicians is the large number of people trying self-medication and using medicines that have steroids. Steroids provide immediate sense of well-being, however, this further weakens immunity. The worst affected are children, old people and those with low immunity."

The most common symptoms of viral fever include low-grade fever, cough, cold and body ache and the infection spreads mostly through droplet infection. They also spread mostly in crowded places including offices, bus stops and classrooms. The way out then is to avoid crowded place, have plenty of fluids and nutritious food. Adequate rest during the fever is also essential.

Doctors now warn of diseases associated with summer and monsoon including hepatitis, typhoid and malaria. "At present we are getting as many as 8 to 10 patients with viral fever a day and the number is registering an increase in the city. However, people need to be careful about the drugs they are taking in their haste to get better. Also with meningococcal meningitis on the rise, people need to immediately report high fever and the appearance of rash and should not try and delay the process of getting to a doctor," said Delhi Medical Association president K.K. Aggarwal.

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