Don't let winter diseases keep you down for long
Now that winter’s bitter cold is all set to make way for spring, it’s time when people start falling prey to influenza viruses.
By Writankar Mukherjee, TNN |
KOLKATA: Now that winter’s bitter cold is all set to make way for spring, it’s time when people start falling prey to influenza viruses. It is also the time when the season change often triggers other diseases such as chest infection, throat infection, bronchitis and can aggravate asthma.
This could become a cause of concern for corporate executives, especially when the financial year is now coming to a close and no one wants to miss office. Hence, proper precautions need to be adopted. Undoubtedly, the most common of the seasonal disease is flu.
“The viruses, such as influenza virus, becomes highly active when the outside temperature is light cold,” says Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, infectious disease specialist Ram Gopalakrishnan. “Virus dies in high heat and hence there is practically no possibility for transmission of these diseases during the summers.”
Symptoms
Flu usually starts suddenly and may include symptoms like high fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, running or blocked nose, body ache, diarrhoea and vomiting. “However, it needs to be kept in mind that several other illness, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms. Hence it is better to take medical advice,” says Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata, internal medicine specialist Milan Chetri.
This could become a cause of concern for corporate executives, especially when the financial year is now coming to a close and no one wants to miss office. Hence, proper precautions need to be adopted. Undoubtedly, the most common of the seasonal disease is flu.
“The viruses, such as influenza virus, becomes highly active when the outside temperature is light cold,” says Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, infectious disease specialist Ram Gopalakrishnan. “Virus dies in high heat and hence there is practically no possibility for transmission of these diseases during the summers.”
Symptoms
Flu usually starts suddenly and may include symptoms like high fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, running or blocked nose, body ache, diarrhoea and vomiting. “However, it needs to be kept in mind that several other illness, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms. Hence it is better to take medical advice,” says Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata, internal medicine specialist Milan Chetri.
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Risks
Flu is always not so harmless. Flu can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of any existing chronic medical condition. “The high risk group will be people above 50 years, children below 12 years age and people with underlying medical conditions such heart problem, asthma or liver. It is better to inoculate these people with influenza vaccine,” says Mr Gopalakrishnan.
Precautions
Since flu spreads from person to person, doctors advise to avoid direct contacts such as handshake with such a person. People should not use towels or other personal belonging used by the sick person.
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Also, flu tends to spread more in a closed office environment. “As far as other diseases, avoid ice and cold water as well as sudden change in temperature. Asthma patients should consult their doctors whether to increase the dosage of inhalers,” says Mr Chetri.
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