Ludhiana: Monsoon leaves trail of sore throat cases

LUDHIANA: If you have had a dry and scratchy throat, you are not alone. Several Ludhianvis have been complaining of sore throat and feelish feverish over the last few weeks because of changing weather and shift in lifestyle.
Subhashni Verma, a homemaker of South City area said that she had been suffering from sore throat and finding it difficult to have even soft foods for a few days. “I had taken lozenges but it turned bad with the arrival of the rainy season. However, it settled after some time,” she said.
Another city resident who had gone to Delhi, said that he tested positive for Covid in early July and tested negative after 10 days. He had severe sore throat but he tested negative. “However, the pain remains. When I asked doctor about it, he told me that it is because of changing weather,” he said, adding that the condition lasted around a week.
Dr Manish Munjal, head of department, ENT at DMCH, told TOI that they were seeing around 10 to 15 patients complaining of sore throat every day.
“Cases are increasing and are mainly of viral infections. The reasons could be change in weather and arrival of rainy season, starting of schools etc. Also as weather is hot and humid, people are using AC. The use of AC can also be one of the causes as people confine themselves in closed rooms,” said Dr Munjal.
Dr Sunil Katyal, secretary, Punjab IMA and deputy director, health services at a city hospital suggested that the rising number of sore throat cases are linked to cold or flu. “There are many reasons for sore throat, including bacterial and viral infections, including influenza, besides it is also because of allergic reactions,” said Dr Katyal, adding that in the last few weeks, they have witnessed many patients with similar complaints who seek consultation from physicians.