Mangaluru: Even as India is preparing for the community transmission phase of Covid-19, with the imminent change in weather condition, doctors expect a rise in fever cases, which could trigger panic among the public. April showers accompanied by winds might not only bring the much-needed respite to the region that is reeling under the searing summer but also lead to rise in fever cases. Not all fever cases are Covid-19 and doctors are requesting people to stay home and call the physician before rushing to a hospital.
Dr Sandeep Samethadka Nayak, internal medicine physician practising in California and currently at his hometown in Puttur told TOI, “For the next few months, we can expect more fever and upper respiratory tract infection cases due to Covid-19 and rainy season. The symptoms such as upper respiratory tract overlap in both cases,” he said.
Since the common people are not trained to differentiate between the two, they need to follow social distancing, wash hands and use sanitizers, stay at home and talk to the doctor over the telephone, before rushing to the hospital. “However, if a patient reports shortness of breath and persistent fever, it is important to seek further medical advice,” he said.
Physician Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya said, “Coronavirus is one of the important causes for upper respiratory tract infection. There are more than 100 types of rhinoviruses which cause infection of the nose and throat. There are seven types of coronaviruses causing similar infections, of which three cause complications and four are very mild. One of the three is the novel coronavirus. It is impossible to test for different viruses as the tests are expensive. Since most of these infections are very mild, the treatment would be nothing more than paracetamol, and therefore, there is no need to rush to a fever clinic.”
Dr Kakkilaya said that it is important for people to sit at home and give the doctors a call and seek advice. “The government must make public the guidelines that are published. The vulnerable include elderly above the age of 60 and patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiac disease. Complications develop on the sixth or seventh day, and these people must be watched carefully for symptoms of severe disease and admitted to a hospital if necessary,” he said.
TALK TO DOCTOR OVER TELEPHONE
District health and family welfare officer Dr Ramachandra Bairy said whenever the region experiences pre-monsoon showers, influenza like illness (ILI) will increase. There is no need for people to panic. Asha workers are visiting homes and in case they find people with fever or any related symptoms they will arrange for a call with the PHC doctor, who will advise the patient accordingly. If the cough is severe the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Over the telephone, they can contact the medical officer of the jurisdiction, he said.
Dr Sandeep Samethadka Nayak, internal medicine physician practising in California and currently at his hometown in Puttur told TOI, “For the next few months, we can expect more fever and upper respiratory tract infection cases due to Covid-19 and rainy season. The symptoms such as upper respiratory tract overlap in both cases,” he said.
Since the common people are not trained to differentiate between the two, they need to follow social distancing, wash hands and use sanitizers, stay at home and talk to the doctor over the telephone, before rushing to the hospital. “However, if a patient reports shortness of breath and persistent fever, it is important to seek further medical advice,” he said.
Physician Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya said, “Coronavirus is one of the important causes for upper respiratory tract infection. There are more than 100 types of rhinoviruses which cause infection of the nose and throat. There are seven types of coronaviruses causing similar infections, of which three cause complications and four are very mild. One of the three is the novel coronavirus. It is impossible to test for different viruses as the tests are expensive. Since most of these infections are very mild, the treatment would be nothing more than paracetamol, and therefore, there is no need to rush to a fever clinic.”
Dr Kakkilaya said that it is important for people to sit at home and give the doctors a call and seek advice. “The government must make public the guidelines that are published. The vulnerable include elderly above the age of 60 and patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiac disease. Complications develop on the sixth or seventh day, and these people must be watched carefully for symptoms of severe disease and admitted to a hospital if necessary,” he said.
TALK TO DOCTOR OVER TELEPHONE
District health and family welfare officer Dr Ramachandra Bairy said whenever the region experiences pre-monsoon showers, influenza like illness (ILI) will increase. There is no need for people to panic. Asha workers are visiting homes and in case they find people with fever or any related symptoms they will arrange for a call with the PHC doctor, who will advise the patient accordingly. If the cough is severe the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Over the telephone, they can contact the medical officer of the jurisdiction, he said.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app