With monsoon showers and fluctuating temperature comes the seasonal illness (viral fever). The number of increasing cases of viral fever had been reported by doctors across the city. People with flu-like symptoms i.e., high fever, cough, runny nose and some wheezing, mostly symptoms of the upper respiratory tract are numbered.

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Among the viral infections or viral fever few cases of the H1N1 virus, aka swine flu, has also been included.

“Some patients have tested positive for H1N1 as well, but most of them have other strains of flu or viral fever. In any case, the treatment remains the same – symptomatic treatment of fever, sore throat, runny nose, and Tamiflu in case of patients at risk of complications such as children below the age of five, the old, pregnant women, or immune-compromised patients,” said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant for internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.

Reports have suggested there has been in total 27,285 cases and 1,118 deaths due to H1N1 across the country, based on the data from the National Centre for Disease Control. This is termed as the third-highest number of cases in India.

The health ministry official detailed, “Flu is a seasonal disease and as long as there is flu, a proportion of it will be H1N1. But, there is nothing alarming about it. We are monitoring the situation.”

When to go see a doctor?

Flu or viral fever usually heals on its own and does not need any treatment. If not feeling too unwell can take rest at home and have paracetamol for the fever.

Dr. BK Tripathi, head of the department of medicine at Safdarjung hospital suggested, “However, people must immediately go to a doctor if their fever does not subside even after two-three days, if the fever is very high, and if there is any bleeding. If one has chest pain, they should be taken to the doctor immediately as it may indicate pneumonia. A severe and persistent headache can also indicate meningitis.”

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Source: Hindustan Times