Even a few months ago, a runny nose or a bad cough was brushed aside with a shrug and at the most treated with some cough syrup. But thanks to the paranoia surrounding swine flu, the usual post-monsoon viral flu outbreak has sent the city into a tizzy! At the slightest sniffle or the first sign of a scratchy throat, paranoid Hyderabadis are rushing to the nearest hospital for a “thorough check up” and even a swine-flu screening.
Not a surprise then, that general physicians across the city are now wearing a hassled look. The docs are an overworked lot these days, admits Dr. Rajesh Chabra, a general physician. “symptoms like cough, cold and fever are similar to that of swine flu and people are assuming the worst.”
Recalling a curious case where one of his patients just refused to believe what he had contracted was a normal cold, he adds, “I had to hospitalise one of my patients because no amount of tests would convince him that he had a simple viral fever and not swine flu.” The 23-year-old software engineer left only after two days of hospitalisation and counselling.
his is not a one off case. Dr Dinakar of Mediciti Hospital had similar experiences. “Most patients arrive looking very perplexed and demand immediate hospitalisation and swab tests,” says the hassled doctor, adding, “A 40-year-old businessman, who had recently travelled to Mumbai, came down with a fever and was sanguine he had swine flu. He could be convinced to go home only after his fever came down four days later.”
joining the throng of people queuing up for tests are members of the city’s medical fraternity. “being in constant contact with infected people, doctors are now panicking at the first sign of a stuffy nose,” points out Dr Dinakar. What’s worse, the fact they are more aware of the symptoms only adds to their paranoia.
Trying to stem the hysteria, Dr Chabra points out the difference between the regular flu and the deadly variety. “Swine flu symptoms develop gradually and worsen slowly, unlike a regular viral fever,” he says, adding that even with swine flu there is no need to panic unless you fall under the ‘high risk’ category.
“If the person is not on steroids, pregnant, a diabetic, or has advanced organ diseases, the paranoia is unwarranted.”
Not a surprise then, that general physicians across the city are now wearing a hassled look. The docs are an overworked lot these days, admits Dr. Rajesh Chabra, a general physician. “symptoms like cough, cold and fever are similar to that of swine flu and people are assuming the worst.”
Recalling a curious case where one of his patients just refused to believe what he had contracted was a normal cold, he adds, “I had to hospitalise one of my patients because no amount of tests would convince him that he had a simple viral fever and not swine flu.” The 23-year-old software engineer left only after two days of hospitalisation and counselling.
his is not a one off case. Dr Dinakar of Mediciti Hospital had similar experiences. “Most patients arrive looking very perplexed and demand immediate hospitalisation and swab tests,” says the hassled doctor, adding, “A 40-year-old businessman, who had recently travelled to Mumbai, came down with a fever and was sanguine he had swine flu. He could be convinced to go home only after his fever came down four days later.”
joining the throng of people queuing up for tests are members of the city’s medical fraternity. “being in constant contact with infected people, doctors are now panicking at the first sign of a stuffy nose,” points out Dr Dinakar. What’s worse, the fact they are more aware of the symptoms only adds to their paranoia.
Trying to stem the hysteria, Dr Chabra points out the difference between the regular flu and the deadly variety. “Swine flu symptoms develop gradually and worsen slowly, unlike a regular viral fever,” he says, adding that even with swine flu there is no need to panic unless you fall under the ‘high risk’ category.
“If the person is not on steroids, pregnant, a diabetic, or has advanced organ diseases, the paranoia is unwarranted.”
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