Mumbai: Respiratory infections rise as mercury drops

Daily cases of Covid19 have drastically reduced over the past few days but therersquos been a rise in respiratory infections owing to a sudden drop in mercury unseasonal rain and air pollution Health experts fear the city may witness an increase in allergy viral and Coronavirus cases as viruses become more active in such weather conditions They cautioned against taking overthecounter antibioticsldquoIn cold weather people mostly get viral infections and antibiotics are not needed for its treatment Also doctors should encourage flu patients to get tested for Covid19 to prevent further transmissionrdquo said Dr Santosh Bansode HoD Emergency Medicine Wockhardt Hospitals Mumbai CentralBKC Jumbo COVID Care Centrersquos dean Dr Rajesh Dhere acknowledged that there has been a rise in upper respiratory tract nose mouth throat infections over the past few days On Covid19 he said ldquonumbers would become negligible in the next few days but we may see a spike again from the second week of FebruaryrdquoDr Wiqar Shaikh professor of medicine at Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals said ldquoThe unseasonal rain has brought along the influenza virus amid the third Covid19 wave We are now seeing an exponential rise in cases of upper respiratory infections cough and fever The smog in the city has aggravated asthma and bronchitisrdquoldquoPeople with cough cold or breathlessness should immediately consult a physician and rule out any underlying health issues including Covid19 If the symptoms are neglected it could lead to pneumonia and subsequent hospitalisationrdquo he addedDonrsquot take antibioticsDr Shaikh pointed out that ldquoantibiotics have no role in a viral infection and should be used only if there is a confirmed bacterial infection Patients should be warned that the use of overthecounter medications like antibiotics may in some cases lead to allergic reactions like skin rashes breathing difficulty etc General physicians also need to be cautioned against giving medicines for Covid19 without a confirmed RTPCR testrdquoDr Subhash Hira professor of Global Health at University of WashingtonSeattle said ldquoThere are seven common winter illnesses 1 cold that typically lasts 710 days 2 RSV respiratory syncytial virus causes infection in the lungs and airways that usually lasts 12 weeks and symptoms are coldlike with a wheezingwhistlelike breathing 3 Influenza flu infection lasts from 37 days and if caught within the first 48 hours tamifluantiflu can reduce the duration of the infection The symptoms include muscle aches fever headache fatigue dry cough runny nose and sore throat 4 croup a viral infection that can last for 1 week and symptoms are barking cough and hoarseness with fever and runny nose 5 pneumonia that can last for 23 weeks and symptoms include cough with yellow or green mucus chest pain chills high fever and rapid breathing 6 strep throat that can last 12 days and symptoms are sore throat trouble swallowing fever and stomach ache and 7 stomach flu a viral infection in the intestines that can last for 13 days and symptoms are stomach pain nausea vomiting mild fever fatigue and watery diarrhoeardquoPreventing and dealing with winter illnesses Frequently wash hands with soap or use sanitiser and wear face masks Sanitise door handles knobs toys and any commonly used surfaces Take paracetamol crocin as per body weight if therersquos fever If therersquos vomiting take small doses of electrolytes to stay hydrated If you have stuffy nose and cough use vaporisers Honey licks for children gargling with warm water for adults in case of sore throat Watch your childrsquos activity levels and appetite Consult your doctor if your child is lethargic has a high fever is barely eating andor is dehydrated