PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Doctors said that current temperature fluctuations have increased viral infections among children and adults. The season is favourable for viruses to stay on surfaces for a longer period, which has resulted in an increase in viral infection cases in this season. Doctors urged citizens to take necessary precautions and opt for isolation if anybody is suffering from common symptoms of viral infection in order to prevent its spread.
Senior physician at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay District Hospital Dr Praveen Panwar said that viral infections are currently common among people in the OPD. Among viral infections, chikungunya is most common this time.
As rains are still continuing in some areas, it has made viruses stay on surfaces for a longer period, which has increased viral infections. People are coming with complaints of high fever, itching, loose motion, headache, body ache and joint pain. The OPD footfall has increased by four to five per cent with these cases. To prevent this, people are urged to sanitise themselves and their hands while coming from outside. If anybody is suffering from cold and fever, maintain distance from others and maximise intake of liquids, he said.
Senior paediatrician at Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital Dr Vishal Kaushik said that currently, due to fluctuations in temperature with cool conditions during rain followed by sunny weather, cases of viral infection have increased among children. He said the viral cases that have increased among children are basically influenza and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). HFMD cases have increased in OPD among children and it is most common in children aged less than 10 years due to low immunity. Kaushik said that afflicted children are mainly suffering from high fever and rashes and small pimples on hands and feet, among others.
To prevent this, parents need to be educated about this disease.
If their children are suffering from HFMD symptoms, they should isolate them, not send them to school to prevent spread among other children and consult doctors in a timely manner, he added.
