Winter brings with it related health issues, mostly among kids and elderly

BENGALURU: With the winter season setting in after the withdrawal of the northeast monsoon, there has been a steady rise in the number of people being hospitalised with symptoms of viral fever along with throat infection. The outpatient departments are also seeing an increase in number of patients, mostly children and the aged.

Parents of young children are specially worried as they are catching respiratory illnesses, fever and cold. Hospitalisation of children had come down in the last two months, but now there is a 10-15 per cent rise while the admission of aged people has also gone up by 10 per cent. The beds at KC General Hospital in Malleswaram are all full now.

KC General Hospital is flooded with young patients.

Dr Mohan, Resident Medical Officer at the hospital said, “It is common for young children and the aged to develop respiratory illnesses during winter. They should avail treatment at the right time and should consult doctors as soon as they develop symptoms. Early detection and treatment is the only cure for respiratory infections seen in winter”.

Dr Mohan, Resident Medical Officer, KC General Hospital.

Further he said that at KC General Hospital, 60-70 per cent of patients are being treated at outpatients and those needing more medical attention are being admitted and they are being discharged in 5-7 days.

Dr Ashwin Kulkarni, Associate Professor of Medicine at MS Ramaiah Hospital.

With the change in weather, there is a rise in respiratory infections, pointed out Dr Ashwin Kulkarni, Associate Professor of Medicine at MS Ramaiah Hospital. “It can be just sore throat, cough, cold and phlegm while some people develop pneumonia and bronchitis. People should protect themselves from the cold in the mornings and wind in the evenings with warm clothes. Children, the aged, diabetics and asthamatics should be all the more careful”, he said.

Things to remember:

Parents should keep children warm.

Do not give outside food to children; prefer homemade food.

Get kids vaccinated for flu once a year.

Adults with high BP, diabetes, asthma should follow their medication regimen strictly.

Avoid self-medication; seek medical help in case of symptoms.

Meanwhile, with respiratory illnesses spreading in China, the Union government has cautioned states to remain alert. Following this, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is making arrangements to provide pneumonia vaccination and is monitoring hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Hospitals, including private facilities, have been directed to report pneumonia cases among children and BBMP hospitals have been instructed to compulsorily administer pneumonia vaccines to children aged 3 months, 9 months and 1.5 years.

The BBMP health authorities are also keeping track of KC General Hospital, Bowring Hospital, the Yelahanka general hospital and other government hospitals. The health authorities have also been directed to create awareness among parents about child health in view of the changed weather.