Rise in viral fever cases: Flu corners to be set up in sub-divisional hospitals, PHCs

PATNA: In view of a sudden rise in viral fever and pneumonia cases, the Patna district administration has directed all the sub-divisional hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) to set up flu corners for immediate diagnosis and treatment of children.

According to Patna civil surgeon (CS), Dr Vibha Kumari, these health facilities have been asked to reserve five beds each with oxygen supply for kids with serious conditions. They have also been told to provide ambulance service to the severely-ill patients so that they can reach the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) or the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) easily.

“Since a large number of children experience such seasonal problems every year, there is nothing to worry about. We have, anyway, ensured that the hospitals in different districts have a proper oxygen supply system,” the CS told this reporter and added that 38 cases of viral fever were reported from the PHCs and sub-divisional hospitals on Wednesday.

Incidentally, as many as 1,239 children with different problems have visited the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) from September 1 to 15. Its superintendent, Dr Binod Kumar Singh, claimed, “Of these, 202 were diagnosed with pneumonia. While the kids, who showed signs of improvement, were discharged, 79 are still undergoing treatment at the NMCH.”

On the contrary, lesser number of viral fever cases have been recorded at the PMCH. Its deputy superintendent, Dr A K Jha, pointed out, “Of the 17 children, who turned up at the outpatient clinic of the paediatric ward on Wednesday, 14 were discharged. Only three of them were admitted here.”

Dr Lokesh Tiwari, the head of the paediatric department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Patna, claimed, “Although 16 children with respiratory problems had consulted our doctors, none of them was admitted to the hospital.”

Besides, all the 120 beds at the Mahavir Vaatsalya Hospital (MVH), a private health faculty for children, were occupied on Wednesday as several cases of viral fever, pneumonia, and other problems came to light.

The head of the paediatrics department at the MVH, Dr Binay Ranjan, admitted that majority of the children had viral infections and pneumonia. Some of them even suffered from multisystem inflammatory syndrome.


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