Rise in Flu Cases Causing Panic about Return of Pandemic
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 4: The sudden rise in cases of fever and long-duration cough with some symptoms similar to Covid-19 are causing concern to the people in several parts of the country reminding them of the pandemic days.
Several parts of India have lately been reporting a high number of influenza cases in the last two months with prolonged illness and lingering cough. After battling two years of Covid pandemic, the rise in flu cases has created a scare among general public.
Doctors in several cities reported a rise in long-lasting flu cases with worse-than-usual symptoms. While North India usually sees a spike in flu cases around February and March, this time it has started much earlier, mid-December, with more severity.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), this increase in flu and upper respiratory tract infection cases are being driven by the H3N2 variant of the influenza virus that has been found to be in wide circulation for the past two-three months. This subtype of H3N2 virus causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes.
The symptoms usually include a persistent cough, accompanied by fever. In the recent cases, a lot of patients are complaining of prolonged symptoms. “Infection is taking time to get resolved. Symptoms are stronger. Symptoms persist for a prolonged period, even after the recovery of the patient,” some doctors pointed out.
Some clinical trial specialist, however, provided some solace pointing out that the new strain of influenza was not life-threatening. “It is not life-threatening. But some of my patients had to get admitted due to respiratory problems. Some of the symptoms are similar to Covid, but all my patients have tested Covid negative,” a specialist said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the recent surge in flu cases is similar to the flu outbreak in the West between September and January. The influenza surge in India appears to be more aggressive and long-lasting, doctors said, and its symptoms like cough and congestion can last up to three weeks. Usually, seasonal fever and cough last about five to seven days.
Common symptoms of an infection caused by Influenza subtype H3N2 include cough, sore throat, nausea, body ache and diarrhoea. The flu could also lead to hospitalisation, with some cases escalating to requiring ICU admission. In severe cases, reports citing doctors said, patients developed pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
ICMR scientists suggested a list of Do’s and Don’ts for people to follow to protect themselves from contracting the virus. The research body advises people to wash hands regularly, wear face masks in crowded areas, avoid touching their face, cover their nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, and stay hydrated – all of which people are already acquainted with in the aftermath of Covid. In case of fever or headache, the ICMR advises taking paracetamol.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has warned patients against self-medication using antibiotics and other over-the-counter pills amid rising cases of cough, cold and nausea across the country. The IMA warned that overuse of these medicines leads to resistance against the antibiotics in times of actual need.
“Right now, people start taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav etc, that too without caring for done and frequency and stop it once start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance. Whenever there will be a real use of antibiotics, they will not work due to the resistance,” the IMA’s Standing Committee for Anti-Microbial Resistance said in a statement. It has also asked doctors to prescribe only symptomatic treatment and not antibiotics.
“We have already seen widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during Covid and this too has led to resistance. It is necessary to diagnose whether the infection is bacterial or not before prescribing antibiotics,” the medical body said in a statement.
