BEWARE OF THE SEASONAL COMPLAINTS It’s past mid-July now and the air in this weather is laden with viruses that cause just about everything — from the common cold and fever, to gastrointestinal infections to dengue and malaria. All these problems are apparently being caused by a mild viral strain that is producing symptoms of cough, cold, body ache and fever that lasts for 5-7 days after which infected people get better on their own. People showing up at doctors’ clinics with fever have almost doubled over the past week according to the newspaper reports, now accounting for more than half the patients needing treatment. The sudden change in weather is causing the sudden spurt in symptoms of viral fever and throat infections. The warm, wet weather - high humidity with temperatures between 25 and 30 degree Celsius -- is ideal for bacteria, and viruses to multiply, which sometimes cause twin infections. Even at Chandigarh’s private and government hospitals such as PGIMER, a large number of patients in the OPD have viral fever, say the reports. Experts, say you should look for “localising symptoms” that indicate the underlying cause of the fever. A cough, running or blocked nose and a sore throat indicate an upper respiratory tract infection, while diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach-ache are symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection. Since viruses cause these illnesses, the disease is self-limiting and at most, needs symptomatic treatment such as paracetamol to bring down the fever or medicines to treat the cough and cold. Homeopathic remedies like Gelsemium, Rhus Tox & Belladona also work well depending upon individual conditions. Gastroenterologists say that cases of high-grade fever, joint pain and body ache have become common over the past week. They advise people to drink boiled water and be careful with ACs as the body needs to acclimatize to fluctuating weather conditions. Since all fevers are dehydrating, patients are advised to drink at least three litres of liquids in the form of water, lemonade, coconut water or buttermilk to maintain the body’s electrolyte balance. A mix of warm water, honey and lemon with sugar and a pinch of salt provide great relief. According to expert medical opinion, antibiotics should not be used at drop of the hat. “That is the problem with most of the physicians. Viral infections cannot be treated using antibiotics,” paracetamol is the safest medicine for fever, while for cough and cold, antiallergic medicines are prescribed. Antibiotics are prescribed only if the fever doesn’t subside and there is evidence of bacterial infections,” say the medical specialists. There are very effective & safe homeopathic remedies for viral infections & seasonal allergic complaints like Eupatorium Perf, Allium Cepa & many others, which are very effective to treat such complaints, but should only be taken under expert guidance.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 05:24:01 +0000
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