Swine Flu, Dengue, and Other Infections Surge in Delhi, Says Dr. S Chatterjee
By Shalini Bharadwaj
New Delhi, September 18: The swine flu cases are at peak in Delhi and NCR, with OPDs flooded with swine flu, viral infections, cholera, and dengue cases, according to Dr. S Chatterjee, Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospital.
Rising Infections
Dr. Chatterjee stated, “There are lots of infections happening at this moment. We are having simple viral infections like viral respiratory tract infections, a lot of swine flu, a few COVID cases, dengue, typhoid, very few cases of cholera, and routine gastroenteritis.”
He emphasized the importance of early diagnosis to prevent complications. “It is important for the public to report to treating doctors early so that we can diagnose them on time and save them from complications,” he added.
Weather and Symptoms
Dr. Chatterjee explained that the weather might be contributing to the rise in infections. Common symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, body ache, high-grade fever, and weakness.
Importance of Testing
Dr. Sameer Bhati, Public Health Analyst, stressed the critical importance of timely testing during the peak season for mosquito-borne diseases. “In September, we typically see a sharp increase in testing for diseases like dengue and chikungunya. It’s essential to rule out these infections in patients who show symptoms,” Bhati said.
He further explained, “As flu cases rise, testing for H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 remains crucial. High-risk individuals must get tested without delay. The demand for Swine Flu, Dengue, and Chikungunya testing continues to rise.”
Bhati also noted that people with comorbidities are landing in ICUs.
Doubts Revealed
Swine Flu -: Swine flu is a type of flu caused by a virus that originally came from pigs. It can make people sick with symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat.
Dengue -: Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes. It can cause high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and joint and muscle pain.
Infections -: Infections happen when harmful germs like bacteria or viruses enter the body and make you sick. They can cause symptoms like fever, cough, and body aches.
Delhi -: Delhi is the capital city of India. It is a big city with many people living there.
Dr. S Chatterjee -: Dr. S Chatterjee is a doctor who works at Apollo Hospital. He is talking about the increase in diseases like swine flu and dengue in Delhi.
Apollo Hospital -: Apollo Hospital is a well-known hospital in India where many doctors work to help sick people get better.
Early diagnosis -: Early diagnosis means finding out what disease someone has as soon as possible. This helps doctors treat the disease quickly and prevent it from getting worse.
Complications -: Complications are problems that happen when a disease gets worse or causes other health issues. For example, a simple cold can turn into a serious lung infection if not treated.
Dr. Sameer Bhati -: Dr. Sameer Bhati is another doctor who is talking about the importance of testing for diseases like swine flu and dengue, especially for people who are more likely to get very sick.
High-risk individuals -: High-risk individuals are people who are more likely to get very sick from a disease. This can include older people, young children, and people with other health problems.
Chikungunya -: Chikungunya is another disease spread by mosquitoes. It can cause fever and severe joint pain.
Runny nose -: A runny nose is when liquid comes out of your nose. It often happens when you have a cold or the flu.
Sore throat -: A sore throat is when your throat hurts. It can make it hard to swallow or talk.
Cough -: A cough is when you force air out of your lungs with a loud sound. It helps clear your throat and lungs of mucus or irritants.
Body ache -: Body ache is when your muscles and joints hurt. It can happen when you have a fever or an infection.