Acute respiratory infection, influenza like illness up 2.5 times in a month

INDORE: Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and Influenza like Illness (ILI) have witnessed 2.5 times increase in district in February from January, showed records from Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP).
The cumulative number of people suffering with ARI and ILI was at 1039 from February 1 to 26, which was way higher than only 417 in January, showed records.
The experts blamed it over some kind of influenza virus or change in it which was not detected through testing causing prolonged illness like coughing among the public. HoD, TB and Chest Department, MGM, Dr Salil Bhargava said, “There is a definite rise in case of ARI and ILI this time in February. Interestingly, the coughing is taking a longer duration to get cured. In many cases, the coughing extends to over two weeks. Despite testing them for viral infection, nothing is detected so to concretise the reason behind it is not possible but there must be some change in influenza virus causing trouble to the public in city.”
“The infection is affecting almost every age group. There is nothing like any specific group being affected. Those with existing illnesses are in more trouble as it is taking more time to get cured for them”, added Dr Bhargava.
The records also showed that the number of people recorded with coughing and fever issues in the portal had also doubled in February.
Those suffering with coughing within two or less than two weeks rose to 1608 in February from 834 in January and in cases of coughing within two weeks, the number rose to 277 from 137 in corresponding period, showed records. TnN