Viral fever cases keep Gurgaon hospitals busy

The monsoon has brought with it a host of maladies with hospitals in the district witnessing a heavy flow of patients with viral fever and other infections. Himabindu Reddy reports.

The monsoon has brought with it a host of maladies with hospitals in the district witnessing a heavy flow of patients with viral fever and other infections.

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According to authorities, the Civil Hospital receives more than seven viral fever cases a day. “Nearly 50% of the patients walking into the OPD suffer from viral fever. The number has increased in the last one week as the weather is conducive for the spread of virus,” said Dr Rajiv Dang, senior consultant, internal medicine, Max Healthcare.

Earlier, majority of the patients turned up for treatment at the hospital's out-patient department were complaining of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.

Private healthcare facilities are also witnessing steady trickle of patients.

Doctors said most of the patients were adults who were exposed to congested and closed environments. Many cases of high-grade fever — when the body temperature crosses 102 degrees-mark — have also been reported in the last one week.

“The number of high-grade fever cases is likely to rise as the monsoon progresses. In such cases, the priority is to control the rising body temperature and relieve the patients of the symptoms,” said Dr Lokesh Pant of Alchemist Hospital.

The symptoms of high-grade fever are convulsions, loss of appetite, rigors and vomiting.Doctors say viral fever patients should be kept in isolation to restrict spread of the disease.