City stocks up medicines as H1N1 rears its ugly head

CHENNAI: After four H1N1 cases were reported in the city in the last two days, the Chennai Corporation has stocked up on throat swab kits and oseltamivir (tamiflu) tablets, and has set up separate wards to quarantine H1N1 patients at the Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet.
“We have enough stocks of medicines to treat at least 100 patients.We have ordered more. We have also stocked tablets that will be distributed for prevention. As of now there is no outbreak,” said additional city health officer Dr GT Thangarajan.
Zonal health officers of Kotturpuram and Adambakkam visited the residence of patients who had tested positive for the virus on Thursday . The health condition of the patients, whose names are being withheld, was improving and they had been asked to continue taking the 10-day course of medicines. The throat swab sample of their relative, which was sent to King Institute, tested negative.
The civic body has asked all hospitals to keep adequate stocks of aids to take throat swabs for patients suffering from severe coughs, cold, headache and high fever. The civic body has also asked doctors to be on high alert and told them to follow the Union health ministry’s guidelines on diagnosis, treatment and management. “We have asked all doctors to notify positive cases to the corporation ,” Dr Thangarajan said.
Doctors say climate change, sporadic spells of rain and extension of winter in northern India caused spread of the infection in states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Deaths due to the virus were also reported in these states. “There is a concern that immunity for H1N1 among Indians has declined. If we don’t have medical facilities in hospitals, it can be disastrous ,” said former director of public health Dr S Elango, who is also state president of the Indian Public Health Association.
Combat the flu
The possible symptoms and the usual course of treatment for the 3 categories of H1N1
Category A
SYMPTOMS Fever with cough and sore throat, bodyache/ headache/ diarrhoea/vomiting TREATMENT Under observation for 48 hours, rest at home. Advised to avoid contact with people, especially children below five, pregnant women, elderly and those with low immunity levels. Advised to avoid travelling. No throat swab test or Tamiflu required
Category B
SYMPTOMS All symptoms of category A. Higher grade of fever and severe sore throat If the patient is a child under five, a pregnant women, elderly or HIV+, they should be given oseltamivir tablets TREATMENT 0.75mg of Tamiflu twice a day for five days. No throat swab test required. Quarantined at home and advised rest
Category C
SYMPTOMS All symptoms of A and B accompanied by chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness, fatigue, low blood pressure, blood mixed mucus, blue fingertips and nails TREATMENT Throat swab is sent for H1N1 test. Requires admission to a hospital. 0.75mg of Tamiflu, twice a day for five days