A number of viral diseases are being reported from across Kolkata. This includes Swine flu, types of influenza, conjunctivitis, Covid, dengue and diarrhoea.
Doctors say that the most predominant among them is the influenza A viruse, which is causing widespread illness and even requiring hospitalisation for elderly patients and those with comorbidities.
Doctors are advising children up to 5 years, adults above 65, pregnant women and those with comorbidities to get vaccinated against influenza.
H1N1 and H3N2 are, reportedly, the most common flu viruses in the current outbreak. The flu caused by H1N1 is called swine flu.
It has been learnt that typical symptoms of influenza A virus include a high-grade fever of about 102 or 103 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three days. Body ache accompanies fever in most patients.
Children with respiratory symptoms are testing positive for influenza.
Paediatrics suggest that influenza vaccination is mandatory for children up to 5 years. Although there are a few cases of adenovirus, the majority of children are testing positive for influenza.
There is a diarrhoea outbreak, too. Patients have reported other symptoms such as fever and respiratory problems when affected by diarrhoea.
In the past week a number of people have come down with conjunctivitis, also called pink eyes or red eyes. The outbreak of viral infections has triggered a spurt in conjunctivitis cases. The current spate of infections has been continuing for at least a month.
Inflammation of the eyes, pink eyes, irritation and water discharge from the eyes are the common symptoms.
In this case, most people are getting well within seven to 10 days. Those infected are advised to avoid going to school and office, and stop swimming till they get well.
Those who wear contact lenses should not wear them during the period of infection.
Those infected are advised to keep their hands clean and should avoid touching objects that others might use.
In this deluge of viral infections, there has been a slight uptick in the number of dengue cases, too. Sources in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said about 40 dengue cases were reported in the seven days till July 21.
Nearly, 184 dengue cases have been reported in Calcutta since January this year.
This is not it, an unseasonal outbreak of chickenpox has taken hospitals and physicians by surprise in the middle of an influenza epidemic now sweeping through Kolkata.
Even though the varicella zoster virus, that triggers chicken pox, usually gets activated during Feb-March, coinciding with the onset of summer, this year it has struck late.
At least three private hospitals have received around a dozen cases each, while scores of others have been infected and sought online consultations, say physicians.
In recent years, a repeat attack of chicken pox has also been detected in many patients. Often, the virus remains dormant in the body after a bout of chicken pox and causes herpes once it gets reactivated. Usually, those with a lower immunity are more susceptible to a second attack of chicken pox, said Chakrabarti. But the number of those suffering a repeat bout has been on the rise, he said.
Vaccines are still the most effective way of combating the disease.
Along with pox, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, too, have struck kids. In most cases, it is turning out to be hand-foot-and-mouth disease and not chicken pox.
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