Anirban Das

Although COVID-19 instances are in decline, the metropolis is now under the grip of fever, upper respiratory tract infections, and seasonal influenza. Doctors characteristic this to fluctuations in climate and intermittent rains. Hospitals and telemedicine experts are seeing some sufferers with decrease and upper respiratory tract infections, viral fever, and different associated infections. At least six out of each 10 sufferers are reporting complaints of sore throat, fever, runny nose, cough, allergic bronchitis, asthma, and middle ear infection.

While a spurt in viral ailments is common during the monsoon, doctors stated because the symptoms of those illnesses are just like COVID-19, people have become increasingly confused. With a low platelet count and some of the symptoms being common signs each in COVID-19 and dengue, a few medical doctors are advising sufferers to get examined for each. Sudarshan Ballal, chairman of Manipal Hospitals, who's additionally a part of the State’s COVID-19 professional committee, stated it's far hard to differentiate whether or not it's far a common cold, flu, Influenza ‘A’ H1N1, or COVID-19 based on the symptoms alone. “During the pandemic last year, the usual seasonal influenza activity was curtailed for some time thanks to COVID-19 precautions such as hand hygiene, wearing masks, social distancing, and practicing cough etiquette. However, now we are seeing a spurt in the number of respiratory illnesses and many of these patients have tested negative for COVID-19,” Dr. Ballal stated. He stated this will be because of a spike withinside the common flu and cold viruses and those turning complacent with the discount in COVID-19 instances. “So the take-home message is that we should not forget that in addition to COVID-19, other respiratory illnesses do exist and could come back when the conditions are conducive,” the health practitioner stated.

Haleema Yezdani, a widespread health practitioner who has been regularly tele-triaging and tele-treating COVID-19 sufferers via the Emergency Response Team and Project StepOne organizations NGOs, stated despite the fact that symptoms are similar, there are positive diffused differences. “People should not panic with every symptom of respiratory illness that mimics COVID-19. If symptoms persist for more than four days with abdominal cramps and diarrhea or any nausea and severe body pain, people should seek medical advice,” she stated. Pointing out that there may be a rise in the wide variety of telemedicine consultations in the last weeks, Dr. Yezdani stated it's far vital to report the frame temperature accurately. “A record of 99 levels on the thermometer is also being febrile,” she stated.

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