Times of India
29 July 2011
Mumbai, India

Viral infections normally send the biggest numbers to the sickbay. And this year is no different. Patients across the city have been seeking

medical help, even hospitalisation, for maladies like common flu, swine flu, acute respiratory infection and asthma. “Considering that humidity is high during the monsoon, viruses are bound to proliferate. Hence it is not surprising that patients are landing up in hospital casualty ward or ICU with severe respiratory infections,” said respiratory medicine specialist Dr Sujit Rajan from Bombay Hospital, adding that what is worrying is the spurt in asthma patients needing hospitalisation. “It is clear that these patients don’t take preventive medication for asthma and land up in an emergency due to a viral infection,” Rajan said.

A doctor in KEM Hospital said, “As we are a referral centre, we get more patients than other hospitals with respiratory infections. This monsoon is no different.” The doctor said the most common flu this season was Influenza A rather than swine flu.

“But both flu strains can lead to chest infection that could cause pneumonia or respiratory distress,” said the doctor.

Hinduja Hospital’s Dr Khusrav Bajan said that viral bronchitis was another common problem this season. “H1N1 or swine flu made an appearance two years back, it cannot lead to severe problems in people as they must have developed some amount of immunity to it. But other viruses could have mutated and are causing problems,” he said.