Suspected swine flu cases surface at children hospital

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 25

The paediatrics unit of the Women and Children Hospital has witnessed a sizeable number of suspected swine flu patients, varying from mild to moderate severity, for the past 10 days.

The paediatricians at WCH, a sub-unit of Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital, said although there have been no confirmed cases, a number of children visiting the OPD in the past one week were found to be having mild to moderate symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

There are four paediatricians in the hospital who have been witnessing three to four children with mild to moderate symptoms of swine flu on daily basis for past 8-10 days.

As per the doctors, as many as 21 children having swine flu of B-category have been prescribed Tamiflu tablets (oral), which are administered to patients with moderate symptoms. Apart from that, around 60-70 per cent of the total patients visiting the OPD (more than 250) on daily basis are suffering from viral infection (considered milder symptoms of swine flu).

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Dr Ravikant Gupta, a paediatrician at WCH, said “A number of children are visiting the paediatrics unit with swine flu symptoms, varying from A-category (mild) to B-category (moderate). But there are no confirmed cases as of now. Moreover, it is essential to differentiate between viral fever/ infection and swine flu as a majority of the symptoms of these two problems are same. Therefore, patients with viral fever must not be confused with those of swine flu. But if the viral fever is taking more than 4-5 days to subside, then close monitoring of the patient is essential.”

“If the child has high-grade fever persisting for more than five days, coupled with bluish discoloration of nails, drowsiness, breathlessness, irritability, low BP level and refusal to accept feed/ food, then there are stern possibilities that the patient has contracted H1N1 virus and immediate medical intervention is required. Children (especially those below five years of age) and people above the age of 65 years have low immunity levels as compared to adults, therefore, they are more vulnerable to the disease,” Dr Gupta said.

“There is no need to panic as every patient with viral infection cannot be called swine flu patient and necessary precautions and timely medical intervention can go a long way in keeping the swine flu patient count to a minimum in the district,” Dr Gupta added.

Experts said apart from the precautions/ prevention, people must also get themselves vaccinated against the H1N1 virus through influenza vaccine on an annual basis.