Nagpur: Sudden drop in temperature, intense activities for the upcoming Diwali festivities and shunning preventive measures like wearing mask, hand hygiene and distancing norms are likely to aggravate
Covid situation and prolong recovery of even home isolated patients.
Minimum temperature has been falling in the city in the last 10 days. During the same period, doctors have observed increase in the number of people reporting fever, cough, cold and respiratory problems.
Pulmonologist
Dr Ashok Arbat said viral infection during onset of winter is a regular phenomenon and like Covid, flu-like illnesses are also equally contagious. “If people don’t follow preventive norms, then Covid cases too will increase and those in home isolation will need longer time to recover,” he said.
District health authorities apprehend onset of second wave of Covid infection sometime after Diwali. This is based on global trends wherein many nations have announced lockdown again following unprecedented single-day surge in new Covid infection cases.
Dr Arbat said every year, 5 to 6 lakh people, mainly senior citizens, succumb to flu-like illnesses in winter. “This year, because of Covid, flu-like deaths may have gone unreported. We had several patients who tested RT-PCR negative, but had
flu,” said Dr Arbat.
Consulting pulmonologist Dr Vikram Rathi said sudden weather change leads to symptoms like cold, cough, sneezing and fever. “Once the weather stabilizes, body gets acclimatized. During this time, everyone must take precautions. The winter viral is not as infectious as Covid, yet it shouldn’t be taken lightly,” he said.
GMCH medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande expressed anguish over widespread violation of Covid guidelines. “It was assumed that people have realized the importance of distancing, mask, hand hygiene. It was expected that good lifestyle habits would have prevented flu-like illnesses. However, all those learning have come undone, it seems. As compared to last year, flow of outdoor patients has increased 200%. I appeal to people to heed the advice and follow guidelines,” he said.
IGGMCH doctors said they were witnessing follow-up patients of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), tuberculosis. “We are yet to see a surge in flu patients,” they said.
Both Dr Arbat and Dr Gawande said vaccination helps in developing immunity to flu-like illnesses. “People should get vaccinated,” they prescribed.
Info
Causes
Increase in pollution and decrease in temperature
Presence of fog and hindrance to clear sunlight makes conditions conducive for viruses
Lack of ultraviolet rays from sun due to fog and pollution cuts Vitamin D production in body
Vitamin D shortage weakens immunity
Prevention
Mask, vaccination, avoiding places with high dust, following hand hygiene, distancing