Kolkata: Thousands across Kolkata have been laid low by another spell of fever and sore throat, with the latter leading to a choked voice for many. With the mercury slowly climbing and occasionally sliding, the weather was ideal for viruses to thrive, said doctors. Adenovirus, rhinovirus, metapneumovirus, and enterovirus were on the prowl, with most affecting the upper respiratory tract and causing severe cough. Many suffered a choked voice, triggered by inflammation of the respiratory airways, said experts.OPDs across Manipal Hospitals also saw a spurt in patients with lingering cough, according to Manipal infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty. “This is likely to be adenovirus, which is affecting both children and adults. In the latter, it is triggering inflammation of the respiratory airways, leading to a dry cough,” said Chakrabarty.While the number of pneumonia patients dropped with the mercury rise, temperature fluctuations led to a spurt in adenovirus, metapneumo, and rhinovirus, said Peerless Hospital chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury. “The symptoms are mild but persistent, with many suffering from a dry cough for close to one month. Treatment is symptomatic,” said Chaudhury. Six out of 10 patients at Charnock Hospital OPD had a persistent cough after a bout of fever. This persistent cough is a ‘post-viral’ symptom caused by a minor injury to the lungs due to the viral attack, according to Charnock Hospital pulmonology head Soumya Sengupta. “The virus attacks the epithelial layer of the lungs that plays a key role in protecting the organ against infections. Since we now have a big temperature fluctuation with a wide difference between day and night temperatures, multiple viruses were unleashed,” said Sengupta.Viral infections can lead to a persistent ‘viral cough’ that is obstinate, according to internal medicine consultant Arindam Biswas. “If the cough persists for a fortnight, then anti-allergic medicines should be taken,” added Biswas.In the last two weeks, there’s a fresh surge of patients with abrupt hoarseness or loss of voice, along with cough, body ache, and low-grade fever at Manipal Broadway Hospital. ” Avoid exposure to sudden temperature changes,” said Sima Datta Roy, senior consultant physician, Manipal Broadway. Treatment is symptomatic, she added.
