The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Viral infections on the rise in city

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Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Viral infections on the rise in city

Afshan Yasmeen

Respiratory tract infections are common during this weather

Incidence of Influenza A(H1N1) has come down
Children, elderly more vulnerable to infections

— PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR

A DAMPENER: The present climate is conducive to a farrago of infections.

Bangalore: The rain and sudden drop in temperature in the city have brought a slew of infections with it. Hospitals in the city are recording a rise in the number of people suffering from various viral infections including gastro-enteritis, malaria and typhoid. This is apart from bronchial asthma, lung and upper respiratory tract infections and leptospirosis, say doctors.

Most people affected by these infections have common symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration, running nose, body pain, headache, sore throat, fever for three or four days, cough and, in some cases, wheezing.

Cholera also

The State-run Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital has recorded more than 30 cases with symptoms of gastro-enteritis (GE) in the last one week. “Of these, four have tested positive for cholera,” said S. Rajanna, Hospital Resident Medical Officer (RMO).

Although doctors at Victoria and K.C. General Hospitals said they are getting only sporadic cases of GE, they are seeing a lot of people with viral fever and upper respiratory tract infections.

K.R. Ravindra, Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine in Bangalore Medical College and Research Centre, said he had seen six malaria patients in the last few days. “Although this rainy weather is not conducive to mosquito breeding, we are getting malaria cases from the suburbs and villages near Tumkur and Hassan. Apart from that we are also getting a lot of patients with respiratory infections and viral fever. Sporadic cases of leptospirosis are also being reported,” he said.

Swine flu down

A few cases of leptospirosis have also been reported at the Bowring Hospital. All these doctors said the incidence of Influenza A(H1N1) had come down considerably in the city. The scene is similar at K.C. General Hospital. Medical Superintendent M. Vishwaaradhya said they were getting a lot of patients with GE and respiratory tract infections.

Advising adequate precautions, Dr. Ravindra said: “Those who step out in the early morning and late evening are exposed to the cold weather and are more likely to catch a viral infection.”

Apart from fever and cold that was common during this season, bronchial spasms and asthmatic attacks get aggravated because of the cold weather. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to infections during this season and special care should be taken to keep them warm and avoid exposing them to the cool breeze, he explained.

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