Surat radiologists first saw spike coming

█ Covid factor: Sudden surge in viral pneumonia cases in Guj’s newest hotspot

Before easing of rules, imaging centres witnessed rush of patients for X-ray, HRCT; 70-90% were +ve for viral pneumonia

Surat surpassed the daily count of Covid-19 cases in Ahmedabad for the first time on June 30. However, radiologists in the city had sensed it coming almost a week earlier. It was the sudden spike in number of people coming in for X-ray and high-resolution CT scans at private imaging centres and the high rate of positivity for viral pneumonia that set the alarm ringing for them. Each of them has reported 70-90% positive cases for the infection.

Dr Anil Patel, who owns an imaging centre in Surat, said he has been carrying out about 30 HRCT scans per day and the positivity rate for viral pneumonia is about 70%.

Dr Ghanshyam Ardeshana, owner of Superscan, said, “The number of people coming in has reduced in last two days, mainly due to lifting of restrictions in RT-PCR and the advent of rapid antigen testing. Earlier, people at large had no options if they had doubts and so doctors would recommend HRCTs.”

“We used to get a total of about 80 people per day total in both our labs. While the positivity rate was as high as 90% in Varachha, it was 70% in other areas of Surat," said Dr Ardeshana. According to doctors, owing to crippling regulations on RT-PCR tests till July 15, rules of testing remained restrictive in Surat (It was then that the government allowed an MBBS doctor to prescribe OPD test). In Ahmedabad, the government had allowed OPD testing on June 11, more than a month earlier.

Radiologists in Surat said that there was a rise in people seeking X-rays in Surat around June 24-25. Alongside, the city and district began reporting more cases daily and Surat started emerging as the biggest hotspot in the state.

Fortunately, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) realised the implications of HRCTs and the high positivity rates. At the end of June, doctors were asked to send lists of suspect positive patients to SMC to be followed up on the Gemini mobile application.

According to Dr Nikhil Shah of Spectrum Imaging, the main cause of the rush for HRCTs was the inaccessible RT-PCR, rampant infection rising due to diamond and textile industries and poor compliance of the mask rule. “We used to get about 100 patients a day between both our centres and the positivity rate was at 90%,” said Dr Shah.

Dr Navin Patel, president of Surat Radiology and Imaging Association, said, “Till now, there was restriction, so people used to come for CT Scan. The government made rules for OPD testing in Ahmedabad but not in Surat. They did that only two days ago. Due to east availability of CT Scan, result in 15 minutes and accurate diagnosis, doctors chose to send patients for the test. SMC has seen the results and is using it now.”

Dr Patel added, “Looking at the sensitivity, HRCT should also be considered as a Covid test because right now, they are just considered suspects. They are treated like Covid patients, but are not considered one until they are tested via RT-PCR.”

Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchanidhi Pani said, “We have five private testing labs, seven local centres to take samples and the government medical college at NCH as well as corporation-run SMIMER hospital to conduct tests. However, CT scans are useful for knowing the amount of damage that Covid has done to the lungs of the patients so it serves its own purpose."