Fever cases are on the rise in the city. While doctors attribute it to a change in weather, they also call for precautionary measures to check on mosquito-breeding sources.
It is that time of the year when the incidence of fever starts to climb. Some city hospitals have witnessed an increase in the number of patients reporting with fever over the last two weeks. This included a few cases of dengue as well.
At the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, there is a slight increase in fever cases in the last one week, said R. Jayanthi, hospital dean.
“There is an increase of 10% to 20%. Most of the fever cases are viral in nature. There are a few cases of dengue. The fever ward is ready, and the fever desk is functioning. The special fever clinic will be opened on September 1,” she said.
She added that they reviewed fever cases every day, and a meeting involving all departments was held during which the cases are discussed.
P. Vasanthamani, dean of Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, said one or two dengue cases were reported during the week but there was no significant rise in fever cases.
Paediatricians are seeing more fever patients. Due to a change in weather, fever cases are on the rise, noted K. Jayachandran, director of Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children.
“It is important to check on mosquito-breeding sources. Children should be protected from mosquito bites,” he said.
Doctors of Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital are also seeing more children with fever in the last one to two weeks.
“There are a lot of viral fever cases now. The temperature has dropped and viruses thrive in such temperatures,” said S. Balasubramanian, medical director of the hospital.
Younger the child, the more the attention required, he said, adding: “normally, when the fever reduces, the child’s activity will improve. However, parents should look out for signs of drowsiness, decreased intake, decreased urine output, rash, breathing difficulty and abnormal behaviour when the temperature is not high. The thrust should be on the child’s activity than the temperature.”
