Docs advised to diagnose, start swine flu treatment early

Despite an increasing number of swine flu cases in the city, doctors said that people should not panic. On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued an advisory on the treatment guidelines for swine flu to city doctors.

Despite an increasing number of swine flu cases in the city, doctors said that people should not panic. On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued an advisory on the treatment guidelines for swine flu to city doctors.

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The advisory instructs doctors to diagnose H1N1 cases at the early stage, to avoid delays in treatment. People under the high-risk category such as children, elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from any underlying disorders should be put on Tamiflu medication and tested for H1N1, stated the advisory.

“In case symptoms such as high temperature, running nose do not subside within 24 hours, doctors should suspect H1N1. Such patients should be put on Tamiflu, but not necessarily be tested," said Dr Mangala Gomare, chief of epidemiology, BMC.

Chembur resident Vinay Talewar, 19, who succumbed to swine flu on August 1, had been suffering from fever for 10 days.

Senior doctors said that general practitioners are finding it difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of seasonal influenza and swine flu leading to delay in diagnosis. “Early diagnosis helps. Hence, we have decided to circulate information about swine flu symptoms, the treatment protocol among our members for early diagnosis,” said, Dr Jayesh Lele, general secretary, Indian Medical Association.

City doctors agreed. “If flu symptoms refuse to subside within a day of medications, the patients should report this to the doctor again and get screened for H1N1,” said Dr Om Shrivastav, infectious disease specialist, Jaslok Hospital.

Over the past six days, 33 people tested positive for the H1N1 virus in the city.