42 kids below 5 years among 368 cases of influenza in TN

CHENNAI: As many as 368 people are currently affected with influenza in the State, of which 42 are kids below 5 years, said Health Minister Ma Subramaniam on Monday. A total of 1,044 cases of influenza have been reported in the State since January until Sunday.

Of the active cases of AH1N1 influenza, 65 patients are within 5-14 years, 192 patients are between 15-65 years and 69 people are above the age of 65.

Subramanian said that at least 89 people are in home-isolation, 264 people are receiving treatment in private hospitals and 15 people are in GHs.

“Fever in most of the cases will get better within 3-5 days, so there is no need to panic,” he said. “Parents have already been advised not to send their children with flu to schools until the fever clears.”

Cases are slowly surging across the State, and the numbers are going to rise further in the coming months, warned medical experts.

“There can be several episodes of infection, as there are different strains of the virus that cause flu. They can be a reoccurrence of infection because even after one recovery from flu,” explained a doctor from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

Meanwhile, doctors at GHs say that though the symptoms of fever and cold subside in 3-5 days, fatigue and body pain can last upto 2-3 weeks.

“There can be fever and cold as initial symptoms but even after recovery, cough and fatigue will continue for 10-15 days,” said Dr S Chandrasekar, HoD, general medicine, Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. “While there are no major side-effects to the body, normal lifestyle is affected for several weeks due to the flu. Dietary modifications such as increased consumption of fluids and easily palatable food is important for at least a fortnight.”