Kolkata: The city has reported a surge in swine flu cases (H1N1) over the past fortnight, with several patients being hospitalised with severe symptoms. The surge peaked with monsoon rain gaining intensity, as H1N1—one of the several subtypes of swine flu—thrived in temperature fluctuation and high humidity, said experts.Common symptoms among Kolkata patients were a high, persistent fever, upper respiratory tract infection, severe body ache and diarrhoea, said physicians.Peerless Hospital has been receiving a steady flow of swine flu patients for three weeks. While nine were admitted on Thursday, scores with moderate symptoms.were treated at OPD. Four-five persons were testing positive at the Peerless lab every day, which was a worrying number, said Peerless Hospital chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury. “Many are reporting for treatment with similar symptoms but are not tested. The symptoms are severe for a significant number and many have required admission, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities,” he said.Charnock Hospital, too, has been receiving a similar flow of patients with swine flu symptoms. Several were admitted with severe upper respiratory tract infection, said Charnock emergency head Nishant Agarwal. “The typical symptoms are high fever, cough, body ache and viral diarrhoea. Swine flu triggers an upper respiratory tract infection, often a conclusive evidence at this time of the year, as few are tested for viral infections. Some also have diarrhoea, apart from fever and respiratory infection,” he said. “Some are being admitted but many more are being treated at the OPD every day.”Fortis Hospital Anandapur has diagnosed over 20 swine flu cases in July so far. “Most have had a broad range of symptoms, from mild upper respiratory tract illness, sore throat, runny nose and body ache to high fever, persistent cough and shortness of breath. Most recover well with supportive and symptomatic treatment but early diagnosis is important as antiviral medication at an early stage checks severity and duration of symptoms,” said Vaibhav Kajaria, consultant, pulmonology & critical care, at the hospital. “Those vaccinated against influenza, particularly the elderly, and those with multiple underlying medical conditions, generally experience a milder course of the disease and recover more quickly.” ILS Hospitals Dum Dum also reported swine flu or Influenza A cases both at its indoor and outdoor units. “The presentation is mostly fever, cough and cold and severe weakness and extreme cases with breathlessness. So avoid congested places, wear mask in public places and if anyone in the family has these symptoms, isolate him or her,” said Priyanka Ghosh, consultant pulmonologist at the hospital. She also recommended testing, isolation, and rest. “Children and the elderly with comorbidities need to be cautious as it can turn to significant breathlessness and pneumonia needing intensive care,” she added.Over the past 10 days, BP Poddar Hospital OPD has been receiving five to six patients a day with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body ache and fatigue. Doctors suspect many of them could be down with swine flu, though none was tested. At Manipal Hospitals, 18 out of 79 tested positive for Influenza and eight are currently admitted at Dhakuria. “The symptoms are low to high grade fever, severe body ache, sore throat, runny nose. These are overlapping with swine flu so it’s not always detected,” said Sayan Chakraborty, consultant, infectious diseases, Manipal Hospitals.
