Srinagar, Oct 9: Influenza has had an early start in Kashmir this year, and the surge is being reported across the age groups, and areas here. While influenza is a seasonal issue, it can lead to complications in high risk groups, requiring hospitalisation.
Respiratory infections are becoming more common across Kashmir. Doctors have urged people to take precautions against influenza and other viral illnesses, especially at a time when Kashmir heads towards colder months.
Prof Naveed Nazir Shah, Pulmonologist at GMC Srinagar said that influenza started earlier across India this year.
“Therefore we also had an earlier rise of influenza cases. While our surge will start around November, this year it started in September and is quite prevalent this time around,” he said.
Prof Shah said his experience has been that many patients are getting secondary infections and pneumonia.
“If the symptoms of influenza do not improve in a week, or there is breathlessness and high-grade fever, seek medical help,” he said.
He advised that people who have diabetes, and lung diseases or are immuno-compromised must get vaccinated against influenza.
“This year, trivalent vaccine is the recommendation. And children under five years of age are also among the group that must get vaccinated,” he said.
The Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) issued a public health advisory earlier in the week, urging people to get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia.
The advisory has directed people to maintain proper hand hygiene and avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.
The advisory has been issued by the Department of Internal and Pulmonary Medicine.
It notes that respiratory viral infections tend to spread more easily during autumn and winter.
In addition, cold weather can aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular ailments.
People with fever, persistent cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and fatigue should take precautions, and yake steps to prevent the infection from spreading to others.
However, it must be noted that these symptoms can be caused by several respiratory viruses.
Only laboratory confirmation can establish influenza as the cause.
Seasonal influenza has been seen to cause a sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat.
In addition, a marked fatique and weakness is a characteristic of viral illnesses.
Most people recover within about a week.
The illness can cause serious complications among vulnerable groups.
Young children, people aged over 65, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses or weakened immunity are considered high risk and can develop severe disease.
The World Health Organisation recommends annual influenza vaccination for this group.
Vaccination is known to reduce the risk of severe illness.
However it doesn’t prevent infection.
Prof Shah said people experiencing flu-like symptoms should stay home as far as possible.
“This is more important for school students,” he said.
SKIMS has specifically cautioned against self-medication.
Indiscriminate use of antibiotics, which is very common in flu, is unnecessary and contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
