Unseasonal rain triggers surge in cold and respiratory cases | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: The unseasonal rain in winter has not only affected the day-to-day life of people in Odisha but has also taken a toll on their health. In the last four to five days, the medicine OPD of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack received around 150 cases every day related to cold. Similarly, the medicine OPD of the VSS Institute of Medical College (Vimsar) received 70 cases every day related to cold.
Around 14 districts were given yellow warnings due to a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, while the remaining districts have experienced dense fog.
According to the medicine professor of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Dr Jayanta Panda, cough, sneezing and fever are common among patients in the last four to five days. “People started adapting to the low temperature in this year’s winter; however, the unseasonal rain caused viral infection among people. Mostly the influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, viral-related illness, hoarseness of voice, nasal congestion, cough, and fever have become universal in the last four to five days,” Panda told TOI.
As a precaution, Panda suggested taking the vaccine for anti-influenza or viral vaccine.
The picture at VIMSAR, where the patients are mostly from districts witnessing low temperature and dense fog, is not that different, with some patients with respiratory-related illnesses also getting admitted to the hospital.
Dr Shankar Ram Chandani of Vimsar’s medicine department said, “The admission and OPD of respiratory illness are increasing. Around 40 respiratory illness cases are being reported in Vimsar every day. Respiratory-related cases have increased 10% this winter, besides 10-15% of cases of skin disease like eczema and other dryness-related skin diseases. In children, 20% of diarrhoea cases caused by ROTA virus is being detected.”
The cold has not only aggravated the respiratory illness among patients, but joint pain, infection in the eyes, and skin are also being reported in Vimsar.
As a precaution, Chandani asked people to exercise, remain active and drink water.
Around 14 districts were given yellow warnings due to a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, while the remaining districts have experienced dense fog.
According to the medicine professor of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Dr Jayanta Panda, cough, sneezing and fever are common among patients in the last four to five days. “People started adapting to the low temperature in this year’s winter; however, the unseasonal rain caused viral infection among people. Mostly the influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, viral-related illness, hoarseness of voice, nasal congestion, cough, and fever have become universal in the last four to five days,” Panda told TOI.
As a precaution, Panda suggested taking the vaccine for anti-influenza or viral vaccine.
The picture at VIMSAR, where the patients are mostly from districts witnessing low temperature and dense fog, is not that different, with some patients with respiratory-related illnesses also getting admitted to the hospital.
Dr Shankar Ram Chandani of Vimsar’s medicine department said, “The admission and OPD of respiratory illness are increasing. Around 40 respiratory illness cases are being reported in Vimsar every day. Respiratory-related cases have increased 10% this winter, besides 10-15% of cases of skin disease like eczema and other dryness-related skin diseases. In children, 20% of diarrhoea cases caused by ROTA virus is being detected.”
The cold has not only aggravated the respiratory illness among patients, but joint pain, infection in the eyes, and skin are also being reported in Vimsar.
As a precaution, Chandani asked people to exercise, remain active and drink water.
