Ahmedabad: Riddhi Madha, 39, a resident of Science City, complained of a sore throat and high-grade fever. “We did not think much of it and thought that with the usual medicines, it might subside in a couple of days,” recounted her husband, Mukesh.He said, “She felt better on the third day, but just two days later, there was a second bout.”Riddhi felt unusual weakness and had a high-grade fever. As she was in pain, the family took her to a hospital. After a blood test, doctors confirmed H1N1, colloquially known as swine flu. “A course of medicines has stabilised her,” Mukesh said.This case is part of a surge of H1N1 cases in the city, recorded in OPD treatments and hospital admissions. City-based physicians said that, compared to the past couple of surges, hospitalisations were fewer this time because infections were less severe.Dr Dhiren Mehta, a city-based physician and former Ahmedabad Medical Association president, said that the classic symptoms of H1N1 include high-grade fever at onset, headache and body ache, severe weakness, and sore throat.“Flu cases surged after the recent spells of rain,” Mehta said. “Of the total, H1N1 made up a significant number. It becomes severe for those with compromised immunity.”Generally, Mehta said, symptoms last for five to six days. Afterwards, some patients experience fatigue and weakness, he added.City-based experts said that as the H1N1 test costs between Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000, it is generally advised only in cases with moderate to severe symptoms. Thus, the experts said, the actual number of cases could be higher than the lab-tested ones.Dr Harjit Singh Dumra, critical care specialist at KD Hospital, said that the share of hospitalisation in H1N1 is generally 10-15%. “Of these patients, 30-40% require ICU treatment due to severe symptoms,” he said. “In the overall population, the number is smaller.”He added, “In this round of infections, we see patients with existing lung and heart conditions, uncontrolled diabetes, compromised immunity, or cancer and transplant history.”In an advisory issued on Wednesday, Indian Medical Association has asked citizens to take only doctor-prescribed antiviral drugs. Citizens have been told to maintain fastidious hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
