As season is changing, people are being infected with seasonal cold, fever, cough, and sneezing. From children to elderly, many people suffer from various physical ailments.
Due to the high dust level during this time, common people are getting colds and coughs. Meanwhile, bacterial infections, tonsil, meningitis, pneumonia are happening. In addition, those who have respiratory diseases are also falling ill during this time of weather change, say doctors and concerned people.
In the past few days, a visit to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Shishu Hospital and Mugda Hospital in the capital has seen a rush of patients seeking treatment for seasonal diseases in the outpatient and emergency departments.
The doctors said as summer arrives, the human body is getting affected by seasonal diseases as it tries to adapt to the change of seasons. Fever, cold and cough, body aches, etc. due to the change of seasons are considered seasonal fever. Sneezing and coughing, runny nose, red eyes, pain all over the body, headache, loss of appetite, bitterness in the mouth, etc. are symptoms of viral fever.
Abul Hayat Manik, a doctor at the Department of Medicine at Tangail Medical College Hospital, told the Daily Observer that in the late winter, the temperature drops in the morning and remains slightly higher from noon to evening. This fluctuation in temperature within 24 hours gives some viruses a chance to attack the body.
Those who cannot adapt to this rapid change in temperature are getting infected by summer, cold and fever. This outbreak is nothing new, it is known as 'flu' or 'viral flu' to the common people, he said.
He also said that there is nothing to panic about. Fever caused by a virus usually goes away within seven days. However, you need to be careful not to suddenly catch a cold.
Therefore, those at risk (who are elderly, suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, asthma, etc.) should seek medical attention immediately. To avoid dust-related diseases, one should develop the habit of wearing masks, said Dr Manik.
Arifa Khanam (60), a resident of Rampura in the capital, has been suffering from mild fever, body aches and cold for a week. Three boys in her family are also suffering from cold and cough. The old woman said that although the fever is not high, the cough and sore throat are very distressing. She has been suffering from summer cold four days. Sabera Khanam, a resident of Moghbazar, is in a similar situation. She said that the throat discomfort is very disturbing. There is no fever after taking Paracetamol tablet. This condition has been like this for several days.
According to regular monitoring by the Department of Health and the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), influenza incidence generally increases during winter and seasonal changes. From 2016 to 2019, 15-26 percent of patients admitted to hospitals for influenza and severe respiratory illnesses in the country each year were infected with influenza.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital Deputy Director Dr Md Ashraful Alam told the Daily Observer that not only the season change, but there is also a lot of air pollution in Dhaka now. That is also why colds and coughs are happening. Since it is a referral hospital, patients come from different parts of the country.
Many children and the elderly come to the hospital with symptoms of fever, headache, cold, malaise, sore throat, and cough. However, there are few patients who are complex enough to be admitted. Most of them are being sent home after medical advice, he said.
Public Health Specialist Dr Zakia Ferdausi Khanam told The Daily Observer that if a child or an adult has a fever, the body should be wiped with lukewarm water. Bathing in lukewarm water can also be done. Paracetamol can be taken as per the doctor's advice. If anyone has a cold or cough, s/he can take cold and cough related medicine. Drinking warm water, tea, soup at home can provide relief from sore throat.
However, no painkillers other than paracetamol should be taken without a doctor's advice, whether it is pain in the hands or feet or any other pain. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and other medicines should also be avoided, he said.
