Tripti Nath/New Delhi

The change in season comes with its own set of health problems but this time doctors are treating patients for many viruses including Adenovirus. Identified only four to six weeks back, the Adenovirus has been decribed as obstinate as it causes cold that lasts at least 12 days.

Doctors are interpreting the Adenovirus in different ways and suggesting that advising people to take adequate precautions to keep viral infection away.

Dr Moshin Wali, Senior Consultant ( General Medicine) in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital says that he is seeing one to two cases of Adenovirus, every week. “ This is a combination of influenza which causes cold, cough and fever and also includes symptoms associated with COVID and Adinovirus. Influenza can be treated with a vaccine. COVID can be ruled out with a RTPCR test. ''

Dr Wali who has served as a full time physician to three Presdents of India, says, "I have been prescribing Vitamin C, paracetamol, bed rest and plenty of fluids to my patients I was also advising them to avoid sudden exposure to temperature fluctuations. When some people have fever, they want to sit in an air-conditioned room. This should be avoided as it can cause pneumonia.’’

In Dr Wali’s knowledge, Adenovirus is causing chronic coughing in children. Due to forceful coughing, children are developing redness in eye.

Dr P. K Mukherjee, a family physician who has a clinical practice of five decades in south Delhi says that while virus is common with change in season, the virus this year is very obstinate and aggressive. “ At the level of family physician, we identify people who are coming with sore throat, cough, cold, fever as having influenza. Since February this year, we are noticing that the infection takes longer than usual to go. We give antibiotics if needed, anti allergic medicines and Paracetamol. This new kind of airborne influenza is bothering people more. ‘’

Suggesting precautions, Dr Mukherjee says, “Since this is airborne, people should avoid visiting each other. Anybody who has fever with cough and cold should not come to office.’’

Dr Ruchira Gupta, Senior Consultant Pediatrician in Kailash Hospital and Heart Institute in Noida, says that children are coming with H3N2 virus, a strain of influenza.  The H3N2 virus known as the influenza virus is most common. Children affected by the H3N2 virus come with fever, running cold, sore throat, congestion, body ache, head ache and pain in calf muscles. We give supportive treatment like paracetamol and advice rest and intake of plenty of fluids. In few cases, it may turn out to be severe, The children develop pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infection. Some children get flu only for two to three days.

Dr Gupta who specializes in treatment and diagnosis of minor and major health problems in children, said that Coronavrus is causing similar ailments. In Covid, generally,  a patient does not have a runny nose. The other viruses are Adeno Virus, RSV Virus and Para Influenza. In Adenovirus, the fever stretches for eight to nine days and the patient gets redness in the eyes, In RSV virus, the patient gets bronchitis.’’

Dr Gupta explained that it is possible to know the identity of the virus by a bio fire test. “ If we feel that a child has cough, cold and pneumonia, we may prescribe this test but we cannot get it done for every case of pneumonia as it costs Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000. Since it is expensive, it has a limiting factor.’’The senior pediatrician said the bio fire test helps a doctor prevent antibiotics.

She said that children are also coming with Coronavirus. “ The children I have seen recently have mild cases of Coronavirus. I recently saw a newborn whose mother had COVID 19 but he reported negative. Today, I saw a 45 day old child whose father had COVID and he developed COVID.’’

Asked how children can be protected from different viruses, Dr Gupta says that patients should teach respiratory etiquette to children. “ Parents should act in a responsible manner by not sending children to school if they have infection because other children run the risk of being infected. The parents should pay attention to vaccination and boost the immunity of their children by ensuring that they get adequate nutrition, adequate hydration, good sleep and good measure of physical activity.’’