New Delhi: Although the number of Covid-19 cases in the capital remained the same during last week, doctors reported a significant increase in cough and sore throat incidents – symptoms in Covid-19 and seasonal flu.
Doctor’s house in Apollo, Max, Manipal and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, among others, said they saw at least four to five patients every day served with fever, coughing and sore throat, but was tested negatively for Covid-19.
“As a precaution, we suggest a Covid-19 test and even if they test negative, we ask them to isolate and store tabs on vital such as oxygen saturation,” Dr.
Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal treatment at the Apollo Hospital, said.
Dr.
Ankita Badiya, Consultant, Infectious Disease at Manipal HCMCT Hospital in Dwarka, said many patients rushed to Opd which panic about Covid-19 despite tests for viral infections to be negative.
“We have not removed Covid’s pandemic, but other influenza viruses also have not reduced fully,” said Badiya.
“We tell our patients not to panic but take all precautions.” Both Covid-19 and flu (also referred to as seasonal influenza) cause respiratory disease and transmitted through contacts, droplets, and fomites.
However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are important differences between two viral infections and how they spread.
“Influenza has a shorter median incubation period (time from infection against symptom appearance),” WHO said.
It adds that while the symptom range for two similar viruses, fractions with severe diseases seems different.
Covid-19 causes higher mortality compared to seasonal influenza.
“The case of seasonal flu rose due to weather changes,” Dr.
Jugal Kishore, head of the Ministry of Medicine at the Safdarjung Hospital said.
Dr.
Rommel Tickoo, Director of Internal Medicine at Max Saket, said it was important to convince patients because there was a lot of fears and panic related to the new Coronavirus and advised them to follow up regularly.
“We also need to test patients who come with fever, sore throat, and other symptoms for dengue fever, malaria and typhus because this is the year when we see many cases like that and the challenge is distinguishing it from Covid-19,” Tickoo said.