Fever, Cough And Self Medication Cases On Rise, Mumbai Ranks High On Scale

Self-medication for fever and cold: Coronavirus is a matter of concern in India. Due to fear of coronavirus-like symptoms, people don’t discuss fever, cold to anyone and resort to home-based treatment. Doctors are concerned that people should not be scared and visit doctors immediately for timely treatment. Hospitals, clinics and medical staff started taking extra precautions to break the transmission and the pattern of the disease. Maintained a high level of hygiene, are providing safe OPD services, cleaning rooms and all surfaces sanitized and changing linens twice a day for patients. Monsoon will be resulting in the rise of seasonal fevers, snivels, respiratory infections and dengue. With the similarity of these diseases in signs to coronavirus, people are becoming increasingly confused as to whether they have the COVID-19 or frequent cough.

Monsoon and seasonal fever

• According to Dr Tushar Rane, Internal Medicine Expert, Apollo Spectra Hospital Mumbai, there has been a four-time increase in cases of fever, cough, and cold in the last 3 weeks. On average, they generally get ten-fifteen patients a day complaining of a headache, fatigue with viral infections. But in the previous 3 weeks, the number has gone up to forty-fifty patients owing to the weather. The sudden changes in the temperature provide ideal conditions for flu causing pathogens. 
• As monsoon illness is on the rise, it has been noticed that people, out of fear of COVID-19, are not sharing symptoms to neighbours or relatives, nor are they reaching a doctor clinic; instead, they are self-medicating by preferring over-the-counter medications from nearby medical stores or home-based treatment. So, when people come at the last minute when the symptoms worsen, it may be difficult for the treating doctor to make a correct diagnosis of whether it is COVID-19 or a common cold, cough. Delay in the treatment can be problematic for the patients, said Dr Rane.

COVID-19: Social media and anxiety

In the last three months, social media and anxiety have made people read and talk about the symptoms of COVID-19 creating confusion and difficulty in distinguishing between the similar symptoms of dengue and chikungunya unusually cold, cough, fever, and chills. Do not fret and visit doctors as safe OPD services are provided to the patients. Doctors wear PPE kits, masks, follow social distancing norms, sanitization is done, and equipment is disinfected from time to time.

Also Read: How To Sanitize Packages Before Taking Them Inside Home? Know From Top Infectious Disease Expert

Conclusion: City doctors urge people, especially children suffering from any illness, and people should not take it lightly. As many symptoms can be misleading and need medical attention, people should not be scared and visit nearby clinics or doctors immediately.

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