New Delhi: Due to unseasonal rains and change in weather, Delhi hospitals are seeing a spurt in patients coming to OPDs with upper respiratory tract infections, typhoid and gastroenteritis.
According to doctors, the number of such cases has almost doubled as the pandemic necessitates increased awareness about such infections.
“These days, we are receiving more than 20 patients every day in OPD with complaints of upper respiratory tract infection, undiagnosed prolonged fever, typhoid, swine flu, allergy, pneumonia and dengue cases?” Dr Bhagwan Mantri, Consultant Pulmonologist said and Critical Care Specialist of Moolchand Hospital, Dr.
“Earlier, the number of such patients was less than 10 per day, but now we are seeing a spike,” he said.
He said the infection is happening in all age groups, but when respiratory tract infections occur in the elderly, they become more severe.
Experts say that usually every year after the monsoon outbreak of infectious diseases is seen.
But unlike in previous years, some hospitals are also witnessing higher numbers of cases of scrub typhus and leptospirosis.
“Dengue which has become a regular burden in this season is a regular disease among OPD patients these days. Apart from this we also get typhoid fever, acute gastroenteritis, viral hepatitis, upper respiratory infection, few cases of swine flu and sometimes COVID-19. Cases are being received.” Dr Manoj Sharma, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj.
“This year we are also getting cases of scrub typhus and leptospirosis, although the numbers are not huge, they are certainly more than in previous years,” he said.
Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium. Chigger mites, the larval stage of the mite, transmit disease from animals such as rats, squirrels and rabbits to humans.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through the urine or excreta of rats and cattle.
According to Dr SCL Gupta, Medical Director, Batra Hospital, unseasonal rains and sudden weather change could be one of the reasons behind the spike in cases.
“Our hospital is looking into cases of upper respiratory tract infections in children, especially in children aged seven to eight. Symptoms include fever, breathlessness, cough, restlessness,” Gupta said.
The minister concurred with Gupta and said that the month of September saw unseasonal rains, which could have been the trigger for it.
“Earlier, diseases used to raise their heads in July and August, but now with the rains in September, the time of emergence of these diseases has also changed to September,” said Manti, when Covid-19 was at its peak, a The spike in cases was not observed.
Doctors advise people to wear masks as it not only protects against COVID-19 but also other viruses that spread through the air.
“Consult a doctor if you have fever for more than 48 hours. If fever is not treated on time it can lead to complications,” the minister advised.
The senior doctor also said that due to Kovid-19, people have started taking respiratory infections seriously.
He said, “Whenever people have difficulty in breathing, they consult a doctor because there is still some fear of covid. Even doctors refer patients with respiratory diseases to pulmonologists.”