Viral Fever Cases on the Rise in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The city is once again seeing a major spike in viral fevers, including children and adults, who are complaining of high fever, cough, and sore throat. However, the government is yet to release any data or the latest figures as regards seasonal diseases, including dengue. The last such update was in August.

A resident doctor at Malakpet area hospital confirmed that there has been a steady increase in viral fever cases in the last one week.

"The symptoms are similar to influenza, with patients experiencing high fever, sore throat, and cough. Many of these cases involve children, although they don’t suffer from high fever," said Dr. Chandrika Reddy, a resident doctor at the hospital.

Well-known pediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh reported that about 90 per cent of her patients complain of viral fevers, apart from a few dengue cases.

"Dengue cases have also started again, along with hand, foot and mouth disease," she said.

The increase in fevers may be attributed to the recent weather change, which is causing many people to experience high fever and sore throats. "Since Deepavali, we've also seen cases of throat infections and allergies," said Dr. M. Karuna, a senior pediatrician in Kompally.

“We are also seeing cases with diarrhoea and vomiting. This post-festival surge may be due to increase in gatherings, which lead to higher transmission rates. The frequency and number of cases have increased, and notably, these cases are not responding to routine treatments or home remedies but improving with nebulization. Moreover, there is an unnecessary use of antivirals like Oseltamivir guidance," said Dr. Praveen Kumar Kulkarni, senior consultant (internal medicine) at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad.

Meanwhile, limited testing facilities make it difficult to identify the type of viral fevers and the exact virus causing them. As a result, doctors are relying solely on symptomatic treatment.