Seasonal flu, cold patients up in Banke hospitals

By Our Correspondent,Banke, Dec. 5: With the onset of winter, the number of patients with seasonal flu, cold, cold diarrhea and pneumonia is increasing in Banke, according to various hospitals.

Dr. Sanket Risal, information officer of Bheri Hospital, said that with the falling temperature, the number of patients with symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat has increased in the local hospitals.  

“Most of the patients take cold and seasonal flu as normal and do not take much care, which results in  pneumonia, leading to increasing  hospitalisation cases,” said Dr. Risal. 

Pneumonia is more common in children and the elderly, he added. 

With the onset of winter, more than 200 to 300 cold and fever patients are visiting Bheri Hospital alone every days, he added.

 Dr. Risal suggested seeking medical help if cold and fever do not go away even after four or five days.

 According to him, if the cold and fever do not go away in four to five days, it could invite  serious health problems, so a health check-up should be done immediately. He said that one should not be careless when symptoms remain the same for more than five days. 

Similarly, number of patients with seasonal flu has recently  increased in Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital of Nepalgunj Medical College, according to Dr. M Kidwai, director of the hospital.

He said that with falling mercury cases of cold, fever, pneumonia and skin diseases have increased in the district.  More than 200 patients with cold and fever arrive in Teaching Hospital Nepalgunj alone on a daily basis, said Dr. Kidwai.

Similarly, hundreds of cold patients are found visiting  various other private hospitals and clinics in Nepalgunj. 

Dr. Shakil Ahmad, senior pediatrician who runs a private clinic in Nepalgunj, said that children are mostly affected by climate change and winter.

He said that since last one week, most of the children visiting his clinic are suffering from cold, fever and pneumonia. Dr. Ahmad asked parents to keep their children safe during the winter season and urged them to consult a doctor immediately even when they have a common cold.

Doctors have suggested wearing a mask to avoid seasonal flu and cold infection, as well as maintaining cleanliness. The doctors have also asked people to wear warm clothes, eat warm water, soups, and soft foods, eat green vegetables and fruits to keep the seasonal diseases at bay.