Mumbai: Flu cases on rise thanks to fluctuating temperature, air pollution

Temperature fluctuations and air pollution are taking a toll on the health of Mumbaikars, with many doctors seeing patients infected by various types of influenza. According to experts, without testing it is difficult to tell whether one has Covid-19, swine or any other kind of flu, as many of these diseases have common symptoms.

Mumbai has been witnessing high temperatures during the daytime while the mercury tends to drop at night. The air quality, meanwhile, has been poor and is not improving. According to experts, these factors are working in favour of viruses.

Dr Pratit Samdani, internal medicine specialist, Breach Candy hospital, said, "Every day, I see five to seven patients who complain about cough, cold, fever, body pain and sore throat at the OPD. Most of them are suffering from common flu-like influenza A and B, and parainfluenza and most cases are of A h3." The A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease in people.

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"For influenza A, we are giving Oseltamivir while there are no drugs for other viruses, we are treating these cases symptomatically. So people are recovering from fever in 4 to 5 days but the cough persists for two to three weeks. Change in the weather and pollutants is the reason behind this," Dr Samdani said.

Many Mumbaikars suffering from the flu are scared that they might have contracted Covid-19 and are approaching doctors about this. "The number of flu patients in OPDs is increasing, and the majority of them are anxious because the symptoms are similar to that of Covid," said Dr Harshad Limaye senior consultant, infectious diseases, Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital.

He added, "Over the past two weeks, we have been detecting four to five patients daily with influenza A or common flu, who are experiencing symptoms such as throat pain, fever, cough and cold. Fortunately, after receiving Tamiflu, their symptoms improve within one or two days. We urge people not to panic about these infections and to seek treatment as soon as symptoms appear. To prevent the spread of the flu, we should continue to wear triple-layer surgical masks and maintain good hand hygiene."

Dr Rajesh Sharma, mentor, pulmonary medicine, HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said, "We are seeing a lot of viral infections in which some of them are cases of influenza A and B and parainfluenza.

Throat infection, cough, and fever are the symptoms. Lots of people are seeing mild symptoms like fever for a day or two; however, a chronic cough can take three to four weeks to go. One should maintain hygiene. Those who are suffering from a viral infection must take care as air pollution might trigger inflammation of the respiratory system."