Panaji: Health minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday asked people to take precautions to avoid contracting the seasonal flu which is on the rise. He advised maintaining hygiene, staying hydrated, and eating nutritious meals. “If you experience fever, cough, or body aches, visit the nearest community health centre or primary health centre for medical care. Take precautions and stay healthy,” Rane said.
The viral flu typically lasts for two to seven days and is usually treated symptomatically with good hydration and rest, without antibiotics, doctors said. They expect cases to rise during the monsoon season. Doctors have been seeing patients with cold, cough and wheezing, and suspect that the recent spurt in cases could be due to the short episode of unseasonal showers the state witnessed recently.
“Parents must take their child to a doctor if the fever doesn’t go after 48 hours, if the patient is not taking oral feeds and medication, and in cases where the fever is very high,” said paediatrician Dr Pinky S Paliencar. She advised giving children nutritious food and water and monitoring their intake of cold drinks and ice creams, which usually increases during the holiday season. “You cannot deny a child ice creams completely, but you can give them warm water after eating an ice cream,” she suggested.
Dr Rufino Monteiro said fever, body ache, and headache are classic seasonal flu symptoms, which are usually seen with changes in the weather. Some also come in with upper respiratory symptoms, he said. Self-medicating is not recommended, he said, advising people to see a doctor if the flu persists or fever keeps rising. He also advised good hydration during the hot summer months.
The Union health ministry also advised wearing masks and avoiding visiting crowded places as a precautionary measure against seasonal flu. The ministry further advised consumption of fluids, covering one’s mouth and nose with a handkerchief or cloth when sneezing and coughing, and avoiding touching one’s eyes and nose to prevent and control the seasonal flu.
