It is that time of year when illness is rife and everyone is sniffling and sneezing. It is the season of flu.
There is a seasonal variation in the disease pattern with influenza hitting people with a vengeance during the two monsoon periods, MediScene understands along with a rapid spread of infections.
Unlike about 10 years ago, large numbers are stricken during these periods with diseases reaching epidemic proportions, says Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe, adding that this is due to viruses which are airborne or spread through direct contact.
Droplets when infected people sneeze or cough are the bearers of the virus while direct touch and faecal contamination could also be a contributory factor, according to him.
The period of infectivity for most viral illnesses is about 4-5 days but men, women and even children are caught up in such a rat race of going to work or school that when ill, they do not rest. People also travel from area to area. This is not only bad for them but also helps spread the infection far and wide, he cautions.
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| Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara |
The enclosed, congested and air-conditioned environments in which we work or study at offices, schools and tuition classes also lead to the rapid spread of infection, MediScene learns.
Looking around at nature, this Child Specialist explains that climate change has caused rain patterns to go awry. There is no full-blown monsoon now and with the rains spread out over months, disease epidemics also go on for months.
Dr. Amarasinghe picks out the infections that are doing the rounds now:
Common cold – Caused by a virus, it brings about mild fever, a pouring or blocked nose and sneezing. Lasting about 3-4 days, if the patient does not rest, it can lead to sinusitis, wheezing and pneumonia.
Influenza-like illnesses – Once again lasting 3-4 days and caused by different strains of viruses, among the many symptoms are high fever, shivering, headache, body aches, stomach pain, throat pain and diarrhoea. If neglected, there could be sinusitis, ear infections, cardiac problems and in rare cases encephalitis.
For both the common cold and influenza-like illnesses, the mainstay of treatment is bed rest, stresses Dr. Amarasinghe, with paracetamol for the fever and body aches and cough medicine if there is a dry cough. For a secondary bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
Chronic fatigue syndrome – This is an after-effect of influenza-like illnesses, where even after the viral infection has taken its course, the person feels unwell, lethargic, depressed, accompanied by loss of appetite.
After the initial viral infection, it is important to get back to the routine, taking painkillers if necessary.
Gastro-enteritis – Caused by different kinds of viruses, this could be mild to bad, with vomiting, diarrhoea and fever lasting 3-4 days. Here the danger is of the patient becoming dehydrated. Once again the answer is rest with lots of liquids including oral rehydrating fluids. Severe vomiting could be treated with anti-emetics.
Mycoplasma infection – Neither a bacterial nor a viral infection, this is caused by an “intermediary organism”. With flu-like symptoms it leads to ear infections, sinusitis and pneumonia. It is common in enclosed environments where there are wet walls. Air-conditioning spreads this infection. Antibiotics are prescribed for this after diagnosis through a specific blood test.
Conjunctivitis – Spread by a virus, it leaves the victims with red and itchy eyes, fever and in some instances a mild cold.
Tonsillitis – This is diagnosed particularly among children and is accompanied by high fever, throat pain and difficulty in swallowing. Viruses or bacteria could be the cause and doctors may prescribe antibiotics.
Chicken pox – Caused by a virus, there will be high fever for 2-3 days with blisters appearing after that. While there is a vaccine to prevent chicken pox, there is also an anti-viral drug which can be administered during the illness.
Rest is best
Rest it out, is the strong advice that Dr. Amarasinghe gives anyone who is down with the flu.
However, if high fever (101 or 102oF) with severe headache and body pains continues for more than two days, see a doctor, he urges, for it could be dengue which is also rampant currently.
Dengue presents itself like influenza, with physical symptoms such as a rash appearing only on the third or the fourth days. So don’t take a chance if the fever persists beyond the second day. Seek medical treatment especially during epidemic periods of dengue, he urges. |
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