Viral fever cases on the rise in Capital

Though viral fever is common ailment and most cases are reported in monsoons or during a change in weather conditions. However, doctors at various hospitals in the Capital are getting cases of viral these days.

Seven-year-old Ayushi Kalra has been missing school for two consecutive days, as she is suffering from viral fever. Riyaz Bashir, 22, a systems engineer in a Gurgaon-based MNC, is also down with viral.

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Though viral fever is common ailment and most cases are reported in monsoons or during a change in weather conditions. However, doctors at various hospitals in the Capital are getting cases of viral these days. "Though viral infections are not common during this time of the year, a lot of people are getting infected by it these days. I get about three to four cases a week, including children," said a senior doctor of medicine at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital on the condition of anonymity.

However, the doctors also said there was no reason to panic yet. "Common cold with fever is a viral infection. I have treated several viral fever patients recently but there is nothing alarming about the situation as yet," said Dr V.K. Aneja, a senior consultant of internal medicine at Indraprastha Apollo hospital.

The viral infection can affect any age group and the disease lasts for five to seven days. There is no specific treatment for viral; people are usually given symptomatic treatment, only in rare cases antibiotic drugs are prescribed. The symptoms of the disease are mostly general that include high fever, running nose, body ache and nausea. The patients are treated accordingly.

"Though viral is not dangerous, in some cases it can lead to death. But that percentage of people is quite low,” said Dr Aneja.